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California Governor Gavin Newsom is back to his usual tricks—claiming to support the Second Amendment one week, and throwing a tantrum the next.
Last Thursday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down California’s ammunition background check law as unconstitutional, dealing a major blow to the state’s 2016 voter-approved gun control initiative.
The case, Rhode v. Bonta, has been winding through the courts since 2018. The court ruled 2-1 that California’s background check system for ammunition purchases imposes unconstitutional burdens on law-abiding citizens. Judge Sandra S. Ikuta, writing for the majority, noted that the law “meaningfully constrains California residents’ right to keep and bear arms.”
Cue the outrage from Newsom.
Calling the decision a “slap in the face,” Newsom fumed that it disrespected California voters and threatened public safety. “Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter,” he said, ignoring the part where constitutional rights are not subject to a popularity contest.
This sudden return to anti-gun rhetoric is quite the reversal from last week, when Newsom sat on Shawn Ryan’s podcast, happily accepting a SIG Sauer pistol and claiming he supports the Second Amendment. That lasted all of… five days.
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Alan Gottlieb, Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), wasn’t buying it.
“Newsom’s so-called newly found support for the Second Amendment vanished overnight,” said Gottlieb. “He is a lying politician who can’t be trusted. We warned at the time that his pro-gun pronouncement needed affirmation, and he has failed to deliver, just as we expected.”
Gottlieb also reminded Newsom—and anyone eyeing a 2028 presidential run—that the Bill of Rights doesn’t come with a ballot box override.
“We’ve got some bad news for Gavin Newsom,” he said. “Constitutional rights are not up to a public vote, which the 9th Circuit panel recognizes, even if he doesn’t. Neither are rights subject to essentially getting permission from the state, via a background check, in order for citizens to exercise them.”
Judge Ikuta’s opinion called out the law’s fees, delays, and the broad scope of transactions it covered. The court ultimately upheld a lower court’s permanent injunction, scrapping the law as a whole.
For now, California gun owners can breathe a little easier. But if Newsom’s whiplash-inducing pivot on gun rights tells us anything, the fight is far from over—and he’s not done trying to legislate the Second Amendment into the ground.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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Using Governor Newsome’s own rhetoric: “Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter…” someone should start a new ballot initiative. Starting in 2026, any public official who loses, misplaces, cannot account for, or incompetently handles one billion dollars (or more) of public funds, derived from taxes or fees, should be decapitated. The public official would be allowed to choose between a French Revolution-era guillotine, or an axe-wielding headsman. (Volunteers will be selected from a lottery.) If enough people vote for this, it should become a law, even if it supersedes the constitution, correct?
Newson is nothing but a greasy politician and we the honest gun owning people of this state have been living with this tyranny for far to long. Now for this unfair tax and gun roster to end . Bless Judge Benitez a man with a backbone….
If “they” can’t outlaw all the guns owned by LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, they’ll back-door disarm everybody by putting prohibitive restrictions on ammunition along with onerous taxes, and mandatory “safe storage” LAWS! YEAH! That’ll reduce violent crime! Right? Well, RIGHT? No? Damn. Okay, write MORE LAWS, and MORE Laws. Stop. Wait. What? Oh, you say CRIMINALS don’t OBEY LAWS? Oh. Damn………
Blackthorne
Michigan
The Peoples Republic of Kalifornistan voted Grab’em Newscum into office. It’s their problem. “Let them eat cake”.
That’s the plan LJ, just keep writing off states?
Not “keep” writing off states, just the demoncrat ran People Republic of Kailfornistan. No doubt you live there, and probably even helped vote these fools into office.
Wrong again LJ.
I told you before, I only lived in California while stationed at Camp Pendleton and you accused me of the same BS and worse before. Deukmejian (Rep) and Wilson (Rep) were the governors, but I was NOT a state resident, could NOT vote for them either way and was issued orders to report to that duty station. You would understand all that if you were NOT just “living in your own private Idaho,” stay in the root cellar and never leave you hometown. You are a useful idiot who is born on 3rd base and thinks he hit a triple.
The left-wing 2A banners love fools like LJ who split and divide the cause of the 2A and encourage others to write off whole states.
Do NOT support fools who encourage writing off the 2A anywhere. LJ thinks he is superior to all the military people stationed in California who he writes off. Nothing worthwhile in the US was built by left-wing extremists and nothing worthwhile should be conceded or written off like LJ wants.
Do NOT trust people like LJ who call for destructive policies to hurt the cause of the 2A.
You know nothing about me you left-wing fruit-cake loser. I’m a level 4 life member/Golden Eagle of the NRA. I’m a former gun dealer and been a collector for 55 years. I’m in more pro-2nd amendment organizations than you can spell. I’m a life long conservative Republican and damn proud of it. What’s you’re excuse jackass? I’ll give you a mulligan this time, since obviously you haven’t been paying attention.
You started with the assumptions a longtime ago, don’t like it, too bad. I know you from your worthless words. I do NOT give a flip about the creds you claim, you are fool on a grand scale. If you were anything worthwhile you would NOT continue voice contempt for whole states full of millions of pro 2A people who did nothing wrong. You act like living in a state has NOT yet been taken over by the blue wave is a personal achievement. Instead of being happy that you currently have it better than other 2A supporters you divide the cause and play into the hands of the radicle left wingers.
If everyone thought like you then all would be lost long ago. If your arrogant political philosophy was applied to the national level than the election of WJC or BHO would mean that everyone in the US should have given up and would deserve the oppressive laws those two pushed. You cannot even admit when you are wrong on the most oblivious fact because you are a self-absorbed fool who thinks he delivered his state all by himself.
Gavin Newscum has broken dozens of Federal Laws, enbezzeled hundreds of millions of dollars, and wrecked the state of caliunicornia. Yet, he walks free as if nothing has happened Where the fuck is the DOJ? No where. WHY? Because they are just grandstanding for the sheeple that actually believe they give a shit about the country. This lying, thieving POS is walkin’ talkin’ proof that they could care less about the real problems in this country
CA gun owners can’t breathe any easier. The stay to the injunction permitting regular ammo purchases is still in effect and has changed nothing. Ammo manufacturers and companies who supply ammo are placing themselves in the CA DOJ Crosshairs for illegal shipments to individuals directly and not through the FFL. Also, are manufactures and businesses charging the 11% sin tax on all ammunition? Midway USA retracted their shipping until the matter is resolved. All other shippers should do so as well. I am a names plaintiff in the case and have followed it very closely.
The communist state of NY does background checks for ammo.
So if Kansas had a referendum for a measure to require gay and trans people to wear badges or to ban discussion of homosexuality in public, would those voters opinions matter, or would these obvious violations of the Constitution be illegal too?
Yes
This needs to be applied in NY , which has a similar unconstitutional law, now!
As is Mr. Gottlieb, no one is in the least bit surprised. The only reason Noisome claims to support the second amendment is because he wants to be president. Not that we are particularly worried about him winning, not after what he did to the California budget. Governor Brown left a budget surplus, and Noisome spent all of that and billions more. Noisome has allowed so many regulations and taxes to take effect that long time residents are fleeing–and yes, that includes Democrats as well.
sounds like kommiefornia needs tough love, let the defund police and ban all guns so they can be a model for what will happen in their utopia. ny needs the same done.
Dumbass, don’t think for a minute that liberal politicians in your state wouldn’t jump at the chance to implement these unconstitutional laws as well. They could go for a national ban under the next liberal administration. California is the testing grounds for unconstitutional anti 2A laws and lots of other stupid laws. Many other states follow California’s lead. Pull your head out of your ass and realize that no state is immune from tyrannical government.
Lighten up, Francis.
you people keep voting them in so…… maybe it will wake people up to reality, and this whack a mole game with laws will stop! so wake up and see what is going on around you, you commie lover!