Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Mandates Immediate Enforcement of Senator Min’s Legislation Banning the Sales of Guns and Ammunition on State Property

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a mandate putting Senator Dave Min’s (D-Irvine) 2022 legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 915, which called for a statewide prohibition on the sale of firearms, precursor parts, or ammunition on state property, into effect immediately. The Ninth Circuit’s mandate, which follows its unanimous decision in June to reverse a controversial decision by a Trump-appointed judge to enjoin SB 915 and SB 264 (which prohibits the sale of guns and ammunition at the OC Fair),  vacates the judge’s injunction and formally authorizes the California Attorney General to begin enforcement of these prohibitions.

Following the Ninth Circuit’s mandate, Attorney General Rob Bonta released an Information Bulletin to notify all state and local law enforcement agencies that “effective immediately, firearms and ammunition may no longer be sold on state property or property otherwise owned, leased, occupied, or operated by the state. No exceptions are allowed for previously scheduled events.”

“This news comes as a huge relief to anyone who has been impacted by the scourge of gun violence,” said State Senator Dave Min. “For too long, California gun shows have been complicit in the gun industry’s efforts to put profit before public safety. Today is a new day that will make our communities safer and put a stop to the free flow of firearms on state property. I applaud Attorney General Rob Bonta’s efforts to quickly notify law enforcement agencies that this ban will be fully enforced. I hope it will also serve as an inspiration to other states to take similar action not only against gun shows, but against the undeniable connection between the unchecked legal purchase of firearms and gun-related deaths in the United States.”

Earlier this week, Senator Min’s SB 965 was signed into law by the Governor. The new law requires CalDOJ to report data on stolen products, background check outcomes, and crime guns linked to federally licensed firearm dealers. The legislation was sponsored by Brady United to End Gun Violence.

A copy of the CalDOJ Information Bulletin can be found attached and at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/2024-dle-12.pdf.

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