Is California’s Gun Rationing Law Finally Dead?

A California law that essentially rationed the number of guns residents could purchase at one time is officially dead.

The law, passed in 2019, limited gun owners to only one gun purchase (handgun or semi-auto centerfire rifle) in a 30-day period. The ban on multiple gun purchases was challenged in court by pro-gun groups, the Firearms Policy Coalition, the San Diego County Gun Owners Political Action Committee, and the Second Amendment Foundation. 

A lower court initially ruled that the restriction clashed with the right to bear arms, overturning it. But California appealed, and the case moved to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In June, a three-judge panel unanimously upheld the lower court’s decision, citing that it does not align with the 2^nd Amendment.

“The panel held that California’s law is facially unconstitutional because the plain text of the Second Amendment protects the possession of multiple firearms and protects against meaningful constraints on the acquisition of firearms through purchase,” Judge Forrest wrote in the court’s opinion.

California had the opportunity to continue fighting by requesting a rehearing in the case by August 6, but the state never filed. As a result, the court issued its final mandate with the judgment taking effect on August 14.

The ruling was a surprising one as the Ninth Circuit has typically shied away from ruling in favor of pro-gun cases.

“Today’s mandate issued by the Ninth Circuit marks the first time the court has issued a final decision striking down a law for infringing on the Second Amendment,” Second Amendment Foundation Executive Director Adam Kraut said in a news release.

“This is a historic victory for Second Amendment rights in the Ninth Circuit and marks a measurable defeat for Governor Newsom and the legislature’s attempts to curtail the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms in California.”

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