US judge strikes down California ban on handgun ads

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A U.S. judge on Tuesday struck down a nearly century-old California law that banned handgun ads at gun shops, saying the state failed to show it would prevent suicides or crime.

The 1923 law banned any handgun ads at gun shops that were visible from outside the store. State officials argued the ads would spur impulsive people to buy a handgun, and impulsive people are more prone to suicide and crime.

The law, however, did not restrict ads for other firearms.

Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento noted in his ruling that gun shops could display a large neon sign reading, “GUNS GUNS GUNS” or a 15-foot depiction of a sporting rifle. The judge said they could also place ads for handguns elsewhere such as on a billboard blocks away.

“The Government may not restrict speech that persuades adults, who are neither criminals nor suffer from mental illness, from purchasing a legal and constitutionally protected product, merely because it distrusts their personality trait and the decisions that personality trait may lead them to make later down the road,” Nunley said.

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trixare4kids said:

US judge strikes down California ban on handgun ads

Seems insignificant but it isn't....
Hallelujah! Another win for the first amendment! An aside, more of these archaic type laws need to be 86'd.

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Bullseye said:

Common sense and respect for the Constitution in California? Who'da thunk? :lamo

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trixare4kids said:

Not the far left looney tunes :stooges who are occupying space in Sacramento, that's for sure.

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trixare4kids said:

US judge strikes down California ban on handgun ads

Seems insignificant but it isn't....
Hallelujah! Another win for the first amendment! An aside, more of these archaic type laws need to be 86'd.

Click to expand...

Kal'Stang said:

Wait...there was a ban on handgun ad displays but not any other type of guns...and this was supposed to stop people from impulse buying a gun to commit a suicide? (never mind the waiting period CA has.....) Yep, California politicians once again show just how stupid they are.

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trixare4kids said:

I'm from the government sir, and I'm here to help.

::cough::

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TurtleDude said:

I wonder if there are bans on gerbil displays visible while standing outside of pet stores? :mrgreen:

Does anyone else get the idea that government needs to get trimmed back a bit?

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