Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- While most of America was busy preparing to celebrate the New Year, gun owners in California were scrambling to lawfully purchase ammunition while they still could. Beginning January 1 2018, all ammunition sales were required go through a California licensed dealer or licensed ammunition vendor.
This new requirement is one of two new ammunition laws that were passed by the California legislature or adopted by California voters in 2016. The law that took effect on January 1 2018 will generally prohibit gun owners from bringing ammunition into the Golden State or from purchasing their ammunition online.
California adopted these new laws in spite of significant evidence that they would only burden law-abiding gun owners and do nothing to promote public safety. Most notably, the reporting of ammunition sales has already been tried — and failed — at the federal level.
Throughout the 1980s, Congress considered repeal of a federal ammunition regulation package that required, among other things, reporting of ammunition sales.
In 1986, the director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms supported eliminating the reporting requirement, stating: “The Bureau and the [Treasury] Department have recognized that current record keeping requirements for ammunition have no substantial law enforcement value.”
As a result, the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 repealed the ammunition restrictions, with little opposition to the removal of that requirement.
California gun owners are now stuck with a similar law that will also have “no substantial law enforcement value,” yet will make it much more difficult for Californians to buy ammunition, especially harder to find cartridges.
Unfortunately, the new ammunition laws do not stop there. Beginning July 1, 2019, a background check will be required on every purchase of ammunition in California. It still remains unclear exactly how California intends to implement this law.
California gun owners looking for clear guidance on how to comply with these new ammunition laws could not look to the California Department of Justice, which failed to receive approval for its regulations implementing the new laws until two days after the law went into effect and over six months past the statutorily mandated deadline for implementing the regulations.
NRA attorneys are currently preparing a lawsuit challenging the new ammunition laws, which will be finalized any day, making it our fourth lawsuit against the “gunmaggedon” package of bills. If you would like to stay updated on our legal and political work in California, please check the California Stand and Fight webpage for updates.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
The article states, “Unfortunately, the new ammunition laws do not stop there. Beginning July 1, 2019, a background check will be required on every purchase of ammunition in California. It still remains unclear exactly how California intends to implement this law.” Nevada tried this very same tactic in the 2016 election – the tactic being o have a background check for any and every firearms transaction whether with an FFL or between private parties. The problem cropped up when they specified the background check had to utilize the NICS system. The Feds promptly told them that federal manpower and resources… Read more »
Robin:
Might one offer The Plot Thickens?
Ammo will be part of the drug black market all coming into California. You can send a person to Congress but you can’t make them think!
Congress is when someone stands up and says nothing, nobody listens, then everyone disagrees!
Sad to note, I cannot remember the source of the following, getting older by the minute I guess. Anyhow, a wiser head than mine suppos fly once offered that “people generally get the kind of government they don’t vote against”.
I voted against the Mexican Nazis and the Mexican Mafia but the prevailed due to the Illeal Mexicans being told by DemocRATs and Goober Jerry Brown they could vote, plus all the liberal A**holes in Los Angeles County, SanDiego area, Fantasy and Fairyland San Francisco Bay area.
now would be an excellent time for ammo makers to stand up and refuse to sell to californication if the citizens can’t by ammo then the state agencies damn sure don’t need any either after all its the law abiding citizen that breaks the law . this would give the ,oh so good criminals,the ability to pursue their craft without the fear of an armed law abiding citizen interfering . YES ,all gun owners,ffl dealersand anyone who values their freedoms should leave that F**ked up state to the libs,dems,illegals and criminals !
In the short term, enterprising internet ammo sellers are developing networks of CA FFLs who will receive shipments at no cost to the buyer (sellers are giving them some sort of incentive). Beyond that, many ammo collectives were established prior to the law going into effect with the objective of stockpiling large ammo caches. Some have filled public storage units with enough ammo to last a decade or more. Finally, the dumb ass CA legislators don’t know anything about reloading. Clearly the best path for criminals. And speaking of criminals, this will likely create a massive ammo black market. As… Read more »
all they have to do is go to ANY BORDERING STATE AND BUY AMMO.
happens all the time.
James:
That would work for some people, going to another state, however what is needed is a wholesale change in the government of California. How to accomplish that is no doubt an interesting question, however it seems to me that it has to start with elections.
Now would be a perfect time for all the LAW-ABIDING gun owning residents of Kali to MOVE THE HELL OUT!
Leave that no-good state to the flower power nutjobs and give the criminals free reign with no gun owner to oppose them!!!
I’m doing just as you stated! Bought last year a home in Nevada and fixing it the way I want it before delivering furniture, and listing my La Mesa,CA home of 40years early spring! I’m 66yr native Calif, but the dems have ruined the State so bad it would take decades to reverse damages. Kudos Badger Jack
Too bad Nevada is turning into another California. Better have a re-think on your move.
there are two federal “codes” in the books that make each and every politician, judge or LEO that tries to or succeeds in depriving any U.S. citizen of any rights, privileges, or immunities that are secured by the U.S. Constitution. Whoever does so is guilty of a felony punishable by ten years to life in prison, or the death penalty if anyone is injured due to their actions. The first is: Title 18, USC, Sec. 241, which protects ’The People” from politicians that “conspire” to deprive them of their constitutional liberties. Wouldn’t writing, co-sponsoring, voting for and enacting a statute… Read more »
it will take WE THE PEOPLE TO ENFORCE IT.
because the STATES AND COURTS WON’T.
THEY ARE PART OF THIS UNLAWFUL CORRUPTION AND CRIMES AGAINST WE THE PEOPLE.
An thusly, this is the reason that “Cali-Burns”, and then is washed down with heavenly rains; in a futile attempt to get rid of the stupidity! Maybe Mr. Brown and his cohorts, need to spend more TIME on their knees, begging for forgiveness. Probably won’t happen!
They be on their knees, just not begging for forgiveness!
Kalifornia is like a bowl of cereal… take away the fruits and nuts, and all that’s left is the flakes.
Exactly how are they going to know if you bought ammo out of state or if you were already in possession before the law went into effect? I suspect this new law just made thousands of law abiding citizens criminals. One day all of this will come to a head.
If enough Tax paying Californians move the hell out, there won’t be any tax dollars to implement the law, or support funding illegal alien benefits. It’s time Trump declare martial law and send in federal troops to restore constitutional order.
Nope. FedGov have no business interfering with stupidity at the state level. That is for the lazy and comatose dwellers in that land of tyranny. Now, perhaps DOJ could take up some action against the state for denying their residents their right to arms, by putting unacceptioble barriers in the path of exercising their rights. No boollitts no gun. Might even bring in that FOurteenth Article of Ammendment that declares no state can make illegal what is legal in a different one or something close to that.. full faith and credit is what its called, I think. So I suppose… Read more »
So thats why Sportsman Supply is crowded on Saturdays NOW with those tourists with California plates……….. Hmmmmmm , I’ll bet they are doing an AMMO RELAY south on weekends and the fruit nazis don’t ask if you have ammo…….. but I bet MOONBEAM Brown will try and have that on the list as you drive across into the land of nuts and fruits….. and ….. ammo……. JUST SAY NO!
the fruit nazis are Dept of Agricutlure, and are allowed ONLY to “protect” California’s agriculture. Othherwise it would be an egregious violation of interstate commerce. They also could not rationally add ammunition to their list of contraband.
when the hell has that ever stopped them from doing as they please ?
Since when is California rational?
If I lived in the Commie State of Kalifornification, I would travel out of state buy my ammo and bring it home F twosome newson and jerry brownose.
Why would you even live in a Communist State and then b**** about it? Move!!!!
Can’t move. Need 100k a year to live got houses boats and property to sell. No job elsewhere. It ain’t easy. It would take a month to move all my shit down the street let alone another state.
I believe the new law states that bringing ammo across neighboring State’s borders is illegal as of 1/1/18, if caught with it like a vehicle search by LEOs. Probably be a Felony of importing contraban ammo.
@RS, Sounds like Cal. is trespassing on Congress’s exclusive authority to regulate interstate commerce. Just offhand.
‘Contraban ammo’? Does that come from the Contras?