Background Checks for Ammo Sales Begin Today in California

Starting today, anyone buying ammunition in California must undergo a point-of-sale background check at the time of purchase. The new law is part of Proposition 63, which voters passed in 2016.

How will background checks work?

From now on, licensed vendors must run a buyer's information through two California Department of Justice databases. The first checks to see if the buyer is a registered gun owner in the state. The second makes sure they're not on a list of people prohibited from buying firearms in California. Buyers must pay $1 to run the checks every time they purchase ammo. If they're cleared they can make their purchase right away.

Those with unregistered weapons can pay $19 for a one-time background check that can take days to complete and is good for a single purchase within 30 days. The California Department of Justice expects to process about 13 million ammunition sales a year.

Does Proposition 63 further regulate ammunition?

Several components of the proposition dealing with ammunition are already in effect. They include requiring people who sell ammunition to be licensed. Additionally, online sales of ammunition must first be shipped to a licensed vendor before buyers can pick it up. Any ammunition bought outside of the state must also be shipped to a licensed vendor for pickup.

Are there any exceptions to the law?

Yes. People can still share with or sell ammunition to close family members without going through a licensed vendor. People can still share, but not sell, ammunition with friends and shooting partners as long as they have no reason to believe it will be used in a crime or given to an illegal user. Ammunition can still be purchase at a shooting range without a background check as long as the ammunition stays inside the facility. Ammunition can be brought into a shooting range as long as the person bringing it undergoes a background check at the facility.

What about the large-capacity ammunition magazine ban?

Proposition 63 also sought to prohibit the possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines in the state. However, the National Rifle Association sued over the provision. A ruling against the ban has been put on hold while the state appeals the suit.