As I write, California’s state legislature is attempting to regain for the state the lost title of Most Anti-Gun Place in the Union. The senate has just passed a provision that would require residents to get hold of a ”Purchase Permit” before buying ammunition. Per CBS:
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A controversial gun measure proposed by a Southern California lawmaker that would require background checks for all ammunition purchases statewide is moving forward in Sacramento.
Senator Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) first introduced Senate Bill 53 last December, which would require anyone wishing to purchase ammunition in California to first obtain a Ammunition Purchase Permit issued by the Department of Justice, valid for one year from the date of issuance.
To obtain such a permit, the holder would have to pass a traditional background check as well as a mental health check, according to De León. The legislation would also ban online and mail order sales of ammunition to Californians.
In addition, SB 53 would require all ammunition sales to take place at a limited list of State-approved “ammunition vendors”, who would also be required to submit sales records to the CA Department of Justice.
Earlier in the year, Connecticut passed a similarly ridiculous measure, the “ammunition eligibility certificate.”
California already has some of the worst gun laws in the country. Residents must obtain a Handgun Safety Certificate prior to purchasing handguns (which are subject to a ten-day waiting period), must register all their weapons with the state, and are only allowed to buy weapons listed on California’s list of approved firearms. The state is also one of the few that has no provision in its constitution protecting the right to bear arms. Evidently, legislators in California have noticed that none of this has worked and are consequently trying to prevent criminals who ignore all of these laws from putting ammunition into the guns they nevertheless own. They never learn — ever.
And how is this bill being sold?
But De León told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the legislation is intended to address an apparent loophole in California law that allows anyone – including convicted felons – to buy ammunition just about anywhere.
Closing a “loophole.” Of course.
(h/t to Brian Doherty at Reason)