Judge Rules Gun Ban Unconstitutional

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, but recent events have sparked debate about the effectiveness and constitutionality of those laws.

On March 20, US District Court Judge Cormac Carney blocked parts of a state law that severely restricted the sale of new handguns. According to the Associated Press, the judge stated that no new handgun models have been approved for sale in the state since 2013. As a result, residents are forced to buy older, less safe models. His decision will take effect in two weeks. Finally, he declared that the handgun requirements are unconstitutional.

Following the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn, Inc v. Bruen, the California Rifle & Pistol Association and other Second Amendment supporters filed the lawsuit. The precedent in the case established a new standard for gun laws, stating that they must only cover what is expressly stated in the 2A and must be “consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition.”

California’s safety provisions do not fall into those categories. The state mandated that all new handguns include three safety features: a magazine disconnect mechanism that prevents the gun from firing if the magazine isn’t properly loaded, an indicator that shows when the chamber is loaded, and microstamping capability that allows police to easily identify the gun from which a spent shell casing emerges.

Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, stated that the requirements were “impossible to meet.” According to him, the law “has deprived law-abiding citizens of the right to choose a handgun” that they require.

Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement to Fox News, saying he will decide the next steps in the case.