California DOJ continues to enforce ammo purchase background checks—despite federal court rulings declaring the process unconstitutional. In a stunning show of defiance, California’s Newsom/Bonta regime is still operating the ammunition background check system even after U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez ruled the law places an unlawful and arbitrary burden on law-abiding gun owners. A Ninth Circuit panel echoed the decision, but California refuses to comply.
Court Rulings Do Not Deter California’s Anti-Gunners
Instead of pausing to reevaluate its position, the California Department of Justice doubled down. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office will continue enforcing the ammunition background check law until the Ninth Circuit issues a formal mandate. In other words, California’s top law enforcement office has chosen to drag its feet rather than honor the court’s order.
In a letter sent to licensed firearm dealers across the state, the DOJ instructed sellers to maintain the status quo: “California’s background check requirements for ammunition purchases currently remain in effect and should continue to be followed by dealers/sellers until further notice.” This directive directly contradicts the spirit of the ruling by Judge Benitez, who made it clear that the law infringes on the constitutional rights of California residents.
This move isn’t just legal foot-dragging—it’s a calculated strategy to buy time. Bonta is expected to appeal the decision to an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit or possibly even the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, the state is likely to file for a stay of the court’s injunction to continue enforcing the restrictions as long as possible.
California’s Long History of Targeting Gun Owners
California has long been at the forefront of restrictive gun legislation, often positioning itself as a model for other progressive states. But critics argue that the state consistently punishes law-abiding citizens in the name of public safety, with little evidence that these policies prevent crime.
The ammunition background check law is a prime example. Studies and reports indicate that the system frequently fails—denying purchases to eligible citizens more often than it catches prohibited buyers. Critics contend that it’s more of a political talking point than a functional policy.
And yet, that doesn’t stop Attorney General Bonta from trying to defend and expand this broken system. A vocal opponent of gun rights, Bonta is committed to making California’s stringent restrictions a national standard. It’s no secret that he would like to see these policies exported across state lines.
Gun rights advocates have repeatedly warned that the law is not only ineffective but discriminatory. They argue that placing so many hoops in front of lawful gun owners does nothing to address crime—and everything to chip away at constitutional freedoms.
What If Other Rights Were Treated This Way?
Perhaps the most troubling question in this ongoing legal battle is: What if the state of California treated any other constitutional right the way it does the Second Amendment? Imagine background checks to buy books. Mandatory waiting periods to post on social media. ID verification to attend a church service.
The outcry would be immediate and overwhelming. But because it’s the Second Amendment, many politicians and media outlets look the other way.
California’s refusal to follow court rulings on ammunition background checks is more than bureaucratic stubbornness—it’s a test of how far a state can go in defying constitutional limits. And unless the courts act quickly and decisively, it sends a dangerous message: that some rights are more equal than others.
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