Recently, the California DOJ issued a bulletin that alligned with our previous post on the Rhode v. Bonta opinion. (Special thanks to Rob Adams of Sacramento Black Rifle and Youtuber Reno May for providing the updates on the DOJ bulletin). As a result of this update, we thought it would be beneficial to provide a complete update on the case in plain english, with dates.
First, there’s big news about how you can buy ammunition in California, thanks to a court case called Rhode v. Bonta. This case started back in 2018 when gun owners, including Olympic shooter Kim Rhode, and groups like the California Rifle & Pistol Association sued the state. They challenged a law from 2019 that made everyone get a background check every time they bought ammo. The law also required face-to-face purchases from licensed dealers and banned bringing ammo from out of state without going through a dealer first.
On July 24, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, a big federal court, agreed with a lower court’s decision. They said California’s background check rule for ammo breaks the Second Amendment, which protects your right to bear arms. The court stopped the state from enforcing those background check laws (specifically California Penal Code sections 30352 and 30370(a)-(e)). That sounds like a win for gun owners, right? Well, not so fast—there’s a catch.
Even though the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, the new rule letting you buy ammo without background checks isn’t in place yet. Here’s why: the court’s decision needs an official “go-ahead” called a mandate. Think of the mandate like a final stamp of approval from the appeals court to the lower court, saying, “Okay, make this happen.” This step usually takes about 21 days after the ruling—around August 14, 2025—unless someone asks for a redo or a delay.
Right now, it’s only July 29, 2025, so we’re just 5 days into a 14-day window where California can ask the court to rethink its decision (by August 7, 2025). If they do, the mandate gets pushed back until that’s sorted out. Plus, there’s already a stay in place from February 5, 2024, which paused the original court order stopping the background checks. That stay is likely still active, meaning the old rules stay in effect until the new mandate kicks in.
The California Department of Justice (DOJ) sent out a bulletin on July 28, 2025, to gun dealers and ammo sellers, clearing things up. They said the court’s ruling doesn’t change anything yet because the mandate hasn’t been issued. Until that happens, dealers and buyers still have to follow the current law—background checks are required for every ammo purchase. The DOJ promised to send another update if things change, so everyone knows what to do next.
For now, if you’re in California and want to buy ammo, you still need to go through a licensed dealer, show ID, and pass a background check each time. The court’s decision to stop this requirement is on hold until the mandate comes through—likely mid-August unless delayed. California might fight this by asking for a rehearing or taking it to the full Ninth Circuit or even the U.S. Supreme Court, which could keep the background checks going for months.
The big question is whether the state will succeed in delaying things further. They’ve done this before in similar cases, like with magazine bans, so it’s a real possibility.
This case could shake up how ammo is sold in California if the mandate goes through without a hitch. You might soon buy ammo without the extra checks, saving time and a small fee. But with the state likely pushing back, don’t hold your breath yet. Keep an eye on updates from the Calgunlawyers.com or check the Ninth Circuit’s website (www.ca9.uscourts.gov) for the latest docket info. Things could move fast, especially if a rehearing petition comes up by August 7, 2025.
Stay tuned—this is a developing story that could change how you get your ammo soon!
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.