A federal appeals court has upheld New York’s law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a previous district court decision that denied a preliminary injunction against enforcing this regulation.
Attorney General Letitia James commented on the outcome, stating, “Once again, my office has successfully defended New York’s background checks on ammunition sales despite repeated attempts to undermine this commonsense law. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their community and my office will continue to defend our laws and protect public safety.”
The law in question is part of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA), which was enacted in July 2022. This legislation requires anyone buying ammunition in New York to pass a background check. In September 2023, the New York State Firearms Association and four individuals filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of these requirements.
In May 2024, Attorney General James’s office prevailed when the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York found that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits and denied their request for an injunction. The Second Circuit’s recent decision upholds that ruling.
This legal development means that background checks for ammunition sales will remain in effect across New York State as litigation continues.
