Ninth Circuit Stops California's Gun Law

In a significant legal development, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has lifted a stay on California's law that restricts individuals from purchasing more than one firearm per month. This decision, made on August 15, allows Californians to apply for multiple firearm purchases within a 30-day period, following a successful challenge by the Firearms Policy Coalition, which argued that the law violates the Second Amendment. The court's ruling emphasized that state officials must demonstrate that gun restrictions are grounded in historical firearm regulations. Judge Hayes noted that California's "one-gun-a-month" (OGM) law lacked a well-established historical precedent, leading to the conclusion that the law is unconstitutional. The case, Nguyen v. Bonta, was initiated by the Firearms Policy Coalition against California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who had previously appealed the district court's decision. While two judges on the Ninth Circuit expressed confidence in the state's chances of success on appeal, Judge Ryan D. Nelson dissented, arguing that the law impedes the core right to self-defense protected by the Second Amendment. The recent order rescinding the stay means that the "1-in-30" law is now blocked from enforcement unless further judicial action is taken. This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over gun rights in California, as it underscores the tension between state regulations and constitutional protections surrounding firearm ownership.