Rhode v. Bonta

Defending California’s law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases.

Court: Southern District of California; Ninth Circuit

Issue at Stake: Background checks

Summary: Everytown for Gun Safety filed a motion to submit an amicus brief in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California in defense of California’s law requiring background checks for all ammunition purchases. Under federal law and the law of most states, no background check is required to purchase ammunition. As a result felons and those convicted of domestic violence crimes can purchase ammunition from any gun dealer without having their records checked. California closed this loophole and, as of July 1, 2019, started requiring ammunition sales go through a state background check process. Everytown’s brief focuses on the long historical tradition of analogous laws requiring background checks, record keeping, proof of identity and imposing administrative delays prior to the purchase of a firearm.

Decision: Everytown’s motion for leave to file this amicus brief was denied by the district court on April 1, 2020.

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