Golden State Today

California's age-based firearms restrictions were upheld by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in a recent ruling. The case, Chavez v. Bonta, challenged the state's law prohibiting licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns or semiautomatic centerfire rifles to individuals aged 18 to 20 who are not active members of law enforcement or the military. Additionally, the plaintiffs contested the requirement for 18- to 20-year-olds to complete a training course and obtain a hunting license before purchasing other long guns from licensed dealers.

Attorney General Rob Bonta commented on the decision, stating, "We applaud the court’s decision and celebrate this important victory in the fight against gun violence." He described the regulation as "commonsense," intended to protect young and vulnerable communities from preventable gun violence and expressed pride in his team's efforts. "The fight is not over," Bonta added. "We will continue to lead efforts to defend commonsense gun-safety laws and protect our communities from senseless violence."

A copy of the court order is available for public review.