CRPA Legal Team Files Lawsuit Challenging California’s Ammunition Restrictions

On Thursday, April 26, the California Rifle & Pistol Association, working with the experts and legal scholars at the NRA, filed an important lawsuit challenging California’s restrictions regarding the sale or transfer of ammunition. These restrictions, enacted in 2016 as part of the “Gunmageddon” bills and Proposition 63, require all ammunition sales and transfers to be conducted via face-to-face transactions at California licensed firearm dealers or licensed ammunition vendors. And beginning July 1, 2019, all ammunition purchasers will be required to pass a background check before taking delivery of any ammunition.

Leading the lawsuit is Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal winner who uses specialized ammunition approved by the International Shooting Sport Federation during the competitions she participates in. Joining her are several other law-abiding California gun owners and the following out of state businesses who can no longer ship ammunition directly to their California customers:

Able’s Sporting, Inc. (also known as “Able Ammo”)– Located in Huntsville, TX, Able Ammo specializes in discount hunting supplies, shooting supplies, hunting firearms, discount ammunition, and other firearm related accessories. Visit their website by clicking here.

Ammunition Depot– Located in Boca Raton, FL, Ammunition Depot was founded by freedom-loving Americans who know that 1) It is every American’s right and responsibility to defend themselves, their family, and country; and, 2) without ammunition, none of that is possible. Visit their website by clicking here.

Sam’s Shooters Emporium– Located in Lake Havasu City, AZ (just outside of California), Sam’s Shooters Emporium celebrated 20 years of business as the largest indoor shooting range in Arizona. The owners of Sam’s Shooters Emporium, Sam Scarmardo and his wife, are dedicated supporters of the Second Amendment and both NRA Life Members. Visit their website by clicking here.

The lawsuit, titled Rhode v. Becerra, challenges the California’s new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the Second Amendment, Commerce Clause, and Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. The lawsuit also challenges the restrictions as being preempted by the Firearm Owner’s Protection Act.

The filing of Rhode marks the fourth lawsuit filed challenging the provisions of Proposition 63 and the other “Gunmageddon” gun control bills. Once such lawsuit, titled Duncan v. Becerra, has already succeeded in obtaining an important injunction against Proposition 63’s ban on the possession of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds. The other two lawsuits, titled Rupp v. Becerra and Villanueva v. Becerra (both of which challenge California’s “assault weapon” restrictions and registration requirements), are also seeking injunctions while those lawsuits are pending.

Help Us Protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

NRA and CRPA are not standing idly by as California’s new firearm restrictions begin to take effect, but WE NEED YOU to help us turn the tide. CRPA’s Grassroots (GO) project needs individuals to be the voices for the right to keep and bear arms in local communities. To learn more about how you can help in these efforts, visit https://www.crpa.org/programs/volunteers-grassroots/ or send an email to volunteer@crpa.org.

To stay informed on the Rhode case, as well as the other “Gunmageddon” lawsuits and other important Second Amendment issues here in California and throughout the nation, make sure you are subscribed to NRA and CRPA email alerts. And be sure to visit the NRA-ILA California dedicated webpage at www.StandAndFightCalifornia.com and the newly redesigned CRPA website at www.CRPA.org.