Current:Home > FinanceFederal judge blocks California law banning gun shows at county fairs-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Federal judge blocks California law banning gun shows at county fairs
View Date:2024-12-23 22:40:09
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked California’s ban on gun shows at county fairs, ruling that the state is violating the rights of sellers and would-be buyers by prohibiting transactions for firearms that can be bought bought at any gun shop.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Mark Holcomb halts enforcement of two state laws, both written by Democratic state Sen. Dave Min, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The first, effective Jan. 2022, barred gun shows at the Orange County Fair, and the other, which took effect this year, extended the ban to county fairgrounds on state-owned land.
“California’s interest in stopping crimes committed with illegal weapons, as important as it is, cannot justify prohibiting the complete sale of lawful firearms at gun shows,” Holcomb wrote.
Min called Holcomb’s injunction “shocking,” and predicted it would be overturned on appeal.
“California’s vital ban on gun shows at state properties, encompassing even our iconic fairgrounds sites, serves as a critical line of defense against the unchecked proliferation of firearms, including ‘ghost guns’ that circumvent essential background checks and traceability,” Min said in a statement Monday.
Gun shows attract thousands of prospective buyers to local fairgrounds. Under a separate state law, not affected by the ruling, actual purchase of the firearm is completed at a licensed gun store after a 10-day waiting period and a background check, the Chronicle said.
But gun-control groups insist the shows pose dangers, making the weapons attractive to children and enabling “straw purchases” for people ineligible to possess firearms.
Another state law, also unaffected by Monday’s decision, has prohibited gun shows since 2020 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County. The Cow Palace in Daly City, which formerly held five gun shows per year, ended them in 2020 after multiple legislative measures to ban those shows were vetoed by Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown.
Challengers to the statewide ban on gun shows at county fairs included the California Rifle & Pistol Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.
“Anti-gun-owner politicians are trying to eliminate the ‘gun culture’ for future generations by, among other things, banning folks from getting together at a gun show to learn about guns, gun safety and gun-control politics,” Chuck Michel, the Rifle & Pistol Association’s president, said Monday
Since the Orange County Fair had previously hosted gun shows for three decades, Holcomb said, there was “no historical basis” for the state’s ban in 2022.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, who defended the laws in court, could appeal Holcomb’s ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bonta’s office asked Holcomb for a stay that would leave the law in effect for at least 10 days, according to the Chronicle. But the judge refused, saying state officials had not shown a likelihood of either a successful appeal or any interim danger to the public from gun shows that would take many months to schedule.
veryGood! (962)
Related
- Ashton Jeanty stats: How many rushing yards did Boise State Heisman hopeful have vs Nevada
- Arson suspect claims massive California blaze was an accident
- Senate set to pass bill designed to protect kids from dangerous online content
- Disney Store's new Halloween costumes include princesses, 'Inside Out 2' emotions
- Mark Zuckerberg Records NSFW Song Get Low for Priscilla Chan on Anniversary
- Orioles pay pretty penny for Trevor Rogers in MLB trade deadline deal with Marlins
- Red Sox beef up bullpen by adding RHP Lucas Sims from the Reds as trade deadline approaches
- Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson: We'll pay US track stars $25K for winning Olympics gold
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- Boar's Head faces first suit in fatal listeria outbreak after 88-year-old fell 'deathly ill'
Ranking
- Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
- Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins roar through impressive sets after rain hits tour opener
- Atlanta pulls off stunner, get Jorge Soler back from Giants while paying entire contract
- Watch as rescuers save Georgia man who fell down 50-foot well while looking for phone
- 'Bizarre:' Naked man arrested after found in crawl space of California woman's home
- U.S. job openings fall slightly to 8.2 million as high interest rates continue to cool labor market
- How did Simone Biles do Tuesday? U.S. wins gold medal in team all-around final
- Simone Biles floor exercise seals gold for U.S. gymnastics in team final: Social reactions
Recommendation
-
College football top five gets overhaul as Georgia, Miami both tumble in US LBM Coaches Poll
-
More Chinese swimmers secretly tested positive, blamed hamburgers: Report
-
2024 Olympics: Jade Carey Makes Epic Return to Vault After Fall at Gymnastics Qualifiers
-
83-year-old Alabama former legislator sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for kickback scheme
-
Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold death says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’
-
Kim Johnson, 2002 'Survivor: Africa' runner-up, dies at 79: Reports
-
Stores lure back-to-school shoppers with deals and ‘buy now, pay later’ plans
-
Wisconsin man sentenced for threatening to shoot lawmakers if they passed a bill to arm teachers