Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 962

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 962 yesterday.

Effective February 1, 2011, Californians will have to provide complete personal information, plus a thumbprint, to buy pistol ammunition. In addition, the bill requires that all pistol ammo sales be “face to face”.

“Although I have previously vetoed legislation similar to this measure, local governments have demonstrated that requiring ammunition vendors to keep records on ammunition sales improves public safety. These records have allowed law enforcement to arrest and prosecute persons who have no business possessing firearms and ammunition: gang members, violent parolees, second and third strikers, and even people previously serving time in state prison for murder. Moreover, this type of record keeping is no more intrusive for law abiding citizens than similar laws governing pawnshops or the sale of cold medicine.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger

So, I guess this means that local gun stores will have their ammo sales records audited to find people buying large quantities of ammo then one night there will be a no-knock at your door to find out why you bought your ammo in the first place. I suppose criminals will now add ammo to their shopping list of things to steal.

I know I'll be stocking up on pistol ammo now and then making out-of-state purchases in the future just because this is a very silly law.