Rhode v. Bonta – the case that simply delivered a significant Second Modification victory within the Ninth Circuit—has hit a brief roadblock.
On July 24, 2025, a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel struck down California’s 2016 ammunition background test regulation and its ban on direct-to-home ammo shipments, calling them unconstitutional. The panel mentioned the restrictions “meaningfully constrain” the correct to maintain and bear arms, violating the Second Modification below the Bruen take a look at.
The case was introduced by Olympic capturing champion Kim Rhode, the California Rifle & Pistol Affiliation (CRPA), Ammunition Depot, and different plaintiffs. Decide Sandra Ikuta, writing for almost all, said:
“California’s ammunition background test regime is unconstitutional… [It] infringes on the basic proper to maintain and bear arms.”
Chuck Michel, CRPA’s president and common counsel, mentioned the choice confirms what gun house owners have argued for years: “A firearm can’t be efficient with out the ammunition to make it operable.”
State Fights Again With En Banc Petition
The victory was short-lived. California’s Legal professional Basic has now requested for an en banc rehearing—which means a bigger 11-judge Ninth Circuit panel would rethink the case.
Due to that petition, the panel’s ruling is on maintain. The court docket’s mandate hasn’t been issued, so California’s present ammo guidelines stay in impact till the rehearing request is determined. If evaluate is granted, the case shall be re-argued later this 12 months or in early 2026.
The still-enforced regulation—handed as Proposition 63 in 2016—requires all ammunition to be bought by licensed in-state sellers, with a background test for each single buy, and bans direct mail-order ammo gross sales to residents’ houses.
Ammunition Depot’s Replace to California Prospects
In a press launch, Ammunition Depot defined to prospects:
Underneath the still-operative regulation (Proposition 63, handed in 2016), California residents should purchase ammunition by in-state licensed sellers and bear a background test for every buy, which successfully bans direct on-line ammo gross sales to houses. Ammunition Depot is urging its California prospects to stay affected person and proceed following all present state legal guidelines concerning ammunition transactions whereas the authorized course of unfolds. Underneath the California DOJ’s interpretation, the state’s ammunition restrictions stay in impact whereas the case proceeds. The corporate will instantly start direct shipments to California prospects if and when the court docket’s mandate is allowed to take impact, however that can’t occur except Ammunition Depot prevails within the subsequent section of the case.
“We all know that is irritating for California gun house owners who have been hopeful the current court docket choice would restore their ammo shopping for freedom immediately,” mentioned Seth Weinstein, Founder & Managing Accomplice of Ammunition Depot. “Sadly, the ruling is on maintain as a result of the State of California is preventing tooth and nail to maintain these restrictions in place. We respect the authorized course of, however consider Californians’ rights shouldn’t be delayed any longer. Our prospects in California have waited years for reduction, and we’re not about to surrender now. We’ll proceed this battle to its end.”
If Ammunition Depot finally prevails, it says it is going to “instantly start direct shipments” to California.
Why It Issues
This case is among the first main ammunition regulation checks below the Bruen normal, and the Ninth Circuit panel’s ruling—if upheld—might affect comparable legal guidelines in different states. For now, although, California gun house owners stay below a number of the strictest ammunition guidelines within the nation, and the battle is shifting into its subsequent spherical.
Ammunition Depot, CRPA, and fellow plaintiffs say they’re able to take all of it the way in which to the Supreme Courtroom if crucial. As Weinstein put it: “We’ve come this far, and the momentum is on our facet…
That day shall be a trigger for celebration, not only for our firm, however for everybody who values the Second Modification.”
ninth Circuit Strikes Down California Ammo Background Verify Regulation as Unconstitutional
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