A federal appeals court has upheld California's ban on gun shows at county fairs and other public properties, ruling that the laws do not violate the rights of firearm sellers or buyers. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge's ruling that had blocked the laws, which were written by Democratic state Sen. Dave Min.
The first measure, which went into effect in January 2022, prohibited gun shows at the Orange County Fair, while the second law extended the ban to county fairgrounds on state-owned land. The appeals court determined that the laws only prohibit sales agreements on public property and do not restrict discussions, advertisements, or other speech about firearms.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who defended the laws in court, praised the decision, stating that guns should not be sold on state-owned property. Gun shows in California require the actual purchase of a firearm to be completed at a licensed gun store after a 10-day waiting period and a background check.
Gun-control groups have argued that gun shows pose dangers by making weapons attractive to children and enabling illegal 'straw purchases.' The lawsuit challenging the ban on fairgrounds sales was filed by a gun show company, B&L Productions, which claimed that the ban violated the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
State officials pointed out that there are six licensed firearms dealers in the same ZIP code as the Orange County Fairgrounds, where the ban was implemented. Senator Min expressed hope that the restored laws will contribute to a safer society with fewer incidents of gun violence.
The ruling is expected to be appealed by the California Rifle & Pistol Association, the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, which aims to protect gun rights and challenge government restrictions on fundamental rights.
