Governor Newsom statement on the Ninth Circuit striking down one of California’s pivotal voter-approved gun safety laws
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today on a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit striking down California’s ammunition background check law, which was passed by voters in 2016:
Strong gun laws save lives – and today’s decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence. Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Most major polls show overwhelming bipartisan support for universal background checks and other gun safety measures, with support typically ranging from 85% to 90%. A 2023 Fox News poll found that 87% of American voters back criminal background checks for all gun buyers. In California, voters approved background checks for ammunition purchases in 2016 by a 63% to 36% margin.