California’s Ammo Background Check Law Gets 9th Cir. Questioning

A California law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases faced a partly skeptical panel of Ninth Circuit judges Wednesday.

Judge Bridget S. Bade questioned the state’s reliance on a footnote in the US Supreme Court’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision suggesting “shall issue” gun licensing schemes are constitutional as long as they’re not abusive. Bruen struck down a New York handgun licensing scheme that said the state “may” issue the license, giving it more discretion than a shall-issue law.

“There’s a serious distinction between a firearm and ammunition,” Bade said. “It seems you’re asking ...