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Governor Schwarzenegger signs new ammunition law
Governor Schwarzenegger signs into law a bill restricting ammunition sales. Democratic State Assemblyman Kevin DeLeon (left) of Los Angeles authored the legislation.
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Governor Schwarzenegger signs new ammunition law
Governor Schwarzenegger signs new ammunition law
Governor Schwarzenegger Thursday signed into law new restrictions on ammunition sales.
The new law requires gun dealers to keep information on who buys bullets, and makes it illegal to knowingly sell handgun ammunition to people banned from owning firearms.
The governor rejected a similar bill last year.
"I’m a firm believer, of course, in the Second Amendment – the right of every law abiding citizen to bear arms. That is why I've consistently rejected bills that unnecessarily restrict that right."
But Schwarzenegger said he could support this bill, authored by Democratic State Assemblyman Kevin DeLeon.
"This bill, appropriate balance protecting the rights of the gun owners and protecting the rights of the people to feel safe and secure in their communities."
The new law, which takes effect next year, also requires vendors of handgun ammunition transfers and sales to store ammunition behind the counter or in a secure manner, and requires the face-to-face transfer of ammunition sales.
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Thirteen California cities, including L.A., already have similar laws.
Gun control advocates say their effect is limited because regulations remain a patchwork across the country, so it’s easy to buy bullets on what remains a robust black market.
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