NRA Supporting Federal Lawsuit Challenging California’s Ammunition Sale Restrictions

[On] April 26, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, with support from the National Rifle Association, filed an important lawsuit in the U.S.District Court for the Southern District of California challenging the state’s new restrictions on the sale and 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 at https://www.ableammo.com/.
• 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 at https://www.ammunitiondepot.com/.
• 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 at http://www.samsguns.com/.

The lawsuit, titled Rhode v. Becerra, challenges California’s new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the Second Amendment and Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

The filing of Rhode marks the fourth lawsuit filed by CRPA attorneys with support from the NRA challenging the provisions of Proposition 63 and the other “Gunmageddon” bills. One 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.

Continue to check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight web page for updates on the Rhode case, as well as the other “Gunmageddon” lawsuits and important Second Amendment issues in California and throughout the nation.

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