Columbus, OH – On Wednesday, The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Rhode v. Bonta, calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to tell California it cannot pick and choose which constitutional rights it wants to protect.

“Just as the right to free speech, the right to a jury trial, and the right to vote include protections so citizens can realize these rights, the right to keep and bear arms also includes ancillary rights that must be protected,” said David C. Tryon, the director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute. “California, however, has imposed obstacles to exercise this constitutional right in ways that it would never consider for the right to free speech, the right to a jury trial or the right to vote.”  

In its brief, The Buckeye Institute argues that California’s ammunition purchasing restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution and burdens law-abiding citizens from exercising their right to keep and bear arms.

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UPDATE: On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit agreed with arguments made by The Buckeye Institute and affirmed the district court’s permanent injunction, writing that “California’s ammunition background check regime, which requires firearm owners to complete background checks before each ammunition purchase, facially violates the Second Amendment.”

UPDATE: On December 1, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit agreed to hear the case en banc, vacating the three-judge panel’s opinion.