San Francisco, Date – In a recent development, a federal appeals court in California has taken steps that could potentially block a state law prohibiting gun advertisements directed at children. The court expressed concerns that the law may have overstepped its bounds in limiting lawful speech.
This decision comes in response to efforts by sporting and gun rights groups, as well as the publisher of a youth shooting magazine, who had sought an injunction to temporarily halt the enforcement of the law. Their argument centered on the claim that the law’s restrictions hindered the marketing of legitimate gun-related events and the recruitment of young participants for safe and responsible youth sport-shooting and hunting programs.
Initially, their request for an injunction was denied by a lower court. However, on Wednesday, a three-member panel from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reconsidered this decision and opted to reverse it, opening up the possibility of further legal challenges to the California law.