The state of California is one of the strictest in the nation when it comes to firearm purchases and ownership.
But no matter how hard the gun grabbers try to make it to purchase a gun in California, they always have a problem, the Second Amendment.
And now a federal judge’s ruling in the state of California made one gun grabbing lawmaker’s jaw drop wide open in disbelief.
Federal judge blocks CA gun ban at county fairs
This week, a federal judge blocked California’s attempt to ban the sale of guns and hold gun shows at county fairs.
According to US District Judge Mark Holcomb, the state ban would violate the rights of both gun sellers and potential buyers.
If enacted, it would have prohibited transactions for firearms on county fairgrounds that are on state-owned land.
Two state laws, both written by Democrat state Senator Dave Min, were first effective in January of 2022 and banned gun shows at the Orange County Fair and later extended the ban to any county fairgrounds in California.
But Holcomb wrote, “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.”
His ruling caused Min’s jaw to drop, as he called the injunction “shocking.”
Min predicts that the ruling would be overturned on appeal and said, “California’s vital gun 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.”
Gun shows are a big attraction at many local fairs, bringing thousands of prospective buyers to the fairgrounds.
A separate state law that was not affected by the ruling says the actual purchase of the firearm is to be completed at a licensed gun store after a background check and a 10-day waiting period.
However, many gun-control groups say that selling firearms at fairs makes the weapons appealing to children and that it enables “straw purchases” for those who are otherwise ineligible to purchase or possess them.
Gun owners fight back
A separate state law that was not affected by the most recent decision has prohibited gun shows from the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego County since 2020.
Before the law’s passing, the Cow Palace in Daly City held five gun shows there per year.
Many are challenging the statewide attempt to ban gun shows at county fairs including the California Rifle & Pistol Association, an affiliate of the NRA.
The Rifle & Pistol Association’s President Chuck Michel said, “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.”
Judge Holcomb stated that there was “no historical basis” for the newly proposed ban since the Orange County Fair had been hosting gun shows there for three decades.
Holcomb refused a request from Attorney General Rob Bonta who asked that the ruling have a 10-day stay, which would have left the law in effect for at least 10 more days.
The judge denied the request and said that there was a very low likelihood of a successful appeal or any danger to the public from gun shows within that time frame.
Informed American will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
