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New California Ammunition Rules Have Gun Shop Owners Concerned

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It's being called a bullet backlash.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 63, putting more rules and regulations on firearms and ammunition.

So what's next now that it passed?

"This is not gonna stop terrorists or violent crime from happening," said gun store owner Josh Deaser.

He has been in the gun industry for decades; he calls Tuesday's passing of Prop. 63 a blow to law-abiding citizens.

"It's gonna be a big change," Deaser said.

Right now Deaser doesn't have to ID clients who want to buy ammunition, only if they're buying a firearm.

Here's the breakdown of how Prop 63 will change the gun industry:

  • By July, it will be illegal for anyone to own a magazine that holds more than ten rounds
  • By January 2018, gun owners will need to have a special permit issued by the Department of Justice in order to buy ammunition
  • By January of 2019, gun shops will be required to do a background check on a client before selling them ammo.

"We anticipate ammunition sales will be very heavy," said Bob Templeton, who owns the Crossroads of the West gun show happening in Sacramento over the weekend.

He says ammo dealers in California are in limbo since Prop 63 passed, and are now waiting for direction from the Department of Justice on how to enforce the new restriction.

For now, Templeton says it's business as usual.

"We have three semi-loads of ammo, that's how much interest there is right now," Templeton added.

"It's kind of a gray area, I don't know how to proceed at this point," said Deaser.

It's now a waiting game for Deaser, who says he can't apply the rules at his gun shop until the DOJ shoots over the new guidelines.

"It's a nasty road we're headed down."

Under Prop. 63, ammunition dealers will have to report the loss or theft of ammo within 48 hours; dealers and owners must report the loss of firearm within five days, or they will face an infraction.

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