What to Know About the 9th Circuit Ruling Keeping California’s Assault Weapons Law in Effect While State Appeals Outlier Ruling

After yesterday’s motions panel ruling, I wanted to send over a few key points about where the challenge to California’s assault weapon law currently stands: 

• Monday’s motions panel ruling ensures that the public won’t be put at needless risk while the state of California appeals the extreme outlier decision from earlier this month.
• A unanimous order from judges appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, this is a reminder that we’ve seen only the opening chapter of this legal challenge.
• The judges said that the stay should remain in place pending resolution of Rupp v. Bonta, in which another district court judge upheld the same California law and the plaintiffs appealed. Rupp itself is stayed pending Duncan v. Bonta, a challenge to California’s restrictions on large-capacity magazines. The Ninth Circuit held en banc oral arguments today in Duncan. 
• Every single federal court of appeals to rule on the constitutionality of laws prohibiting assault weapons has ruled that these laws are fully consistent with the Second Amendment.
• As Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts noted, “The ruling that struck down California’s assault weapons law was an outlier at odds with both precedent and common sense.”

If you have any questions for Everytown Law as this litigation moves forward, please don’t hesitate to reach out.