Judge Rules Gun Ban Unconstitutional

(UnitedVoice.com) – California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. The state was sued over its gun safety requirements, leading to a judge recently ruling that key parts of the law are unconstitutional.

On March 20, US District Court Judge Cormac Carney blocked parts of a law that drastically limited the sale of new handguns in the state. The Associated Press reported the judge pointed out that no new handgun models have been approved for sale in the state since 2013. As a result, residents are forced to purchase older models that aren’t as safe. His ruling goes into effect in two weeks. Ultimately, he said the requirements for the handguns are unconstitutional.

The lawsuit was filed by the California Rifle & Pistol Association and other organizations that support the Second Amendment after the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn, Inc v. Bruen. The precedent in the case set a new standard for gun laws saying they must only cover what is plainly mentioned in the 2A and have to be “consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition.”

Major 2A victory for California gun owners! CRPA President and General Counsel Chuck Michel, celebrated the win

Check out CRPA President Chuck Michel breaking down the win on CRPA TV: https://t.co/YfBxh2EfUs
And contribute to help fuel future wins: https://t.co/aF5UarQrTR pic.twitter.com/ebRmoPdolm

— CRPA: California Rifle & Pistol Association (@CRPAnews) March 21, 2023

The safety provisions California put in place do not fall into those categories. The state required all new handguns to have three safety components: a magazine disconnect mechanism that prevents the gun from firing if the magazine isn’t loaded right, an indicator showing when the chamber is loaded, and microstamping capability that allows the gun that a spent shell casing comes out of to be identified by police easier.

President of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, Chuck Michel, said the requirements were “impossible to satisfy.” He said the “law has deprived law-abiding citizens of the right to choose a handgun” that they need.

Fox News published a statement from Attorney General Rob Bonta, who said he will decide the next steps in the case.