BRADY APPLAUDS 9TH CIRCUIT FOR REINSTATING CALIFORNIA'S AMMUNITION BACKGROUND CHECK LAW DURING APPEAL

https://www.bradyunited.org/press-releases/brady-ninth-circuit-reinstating-california-ammunition-background-check-law

Washington, D.C., May 15, 2020 – Today, Brady applauds the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for staying a preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of California in Rhodes v. Becerra.

The injunction, issued on April 24, 2020, suspended a 2019 law requiring a background check on ammunition purchases in California. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra requested a temporary stay of that injunction on the same day, noting that allowing the background check law to remain in place would “cause no significant harm to plaintiffs, who have been living with the status quo for 10 months” and would “promote public safety by preventing prohibited persons from easily purchasing ammunition over the internet or from their local vendor.”

Brady President Kris Brown shared:

“We are pleased that the Ninth Circuit has kept California’s background check on ammunition law in place while it reviews the trial court decision.

In just 10 months since this law has been in effect, over 750 individuals who cannot legally purchase firearms were also barred from attempts to purchase ammunition. It is clear that this law is working to stop individuals who should not have guns from buying ammunition for guns they cannot legally possess, and skirting the law. This law is working. It is keeping Californians safe.

We hope this is the first step towards undoing an incorrect and dangerous decision that sought to vastly expand the Second Amendment beyond its intended reach, and deprive Californians of their right to have the strong public safety laws they want and need to protect against gun violence. Californians demanded this law because it fixes a public safety loophole that allows individuals prohibited from purchasing firearms under the law to nevertheless continue to purchase ammunition, even when it is clear that they are denied firearm purchases because they cannot pass a federal Brady background check.

Brady remains confident that this law will be upheld on appeal because decades of precedent and public safety laws are on our side. In the meantime, we applaud the action by the Court of Appeals in staying the injunction of this law and ensuring that public safety is prioritized.”

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.