Buying online ammo

[SuperA92]

Hey Guys,

I was doing some research on prices for ammo and stumbled on a few sites that refuse to ship to Los Angeles.

Example:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/ammunition_requirements.html

That sparks the question, has some new law passed that does not allow ammo to be bought online? If not, why are some companies not shipping to Los Angeles?

Thanks.

[Scooterg55]

I purchase all my ammo on line and they ship just fine. Except I live in Orange County. I believe the City of Los Angeles requires the ammo to be sent to a FFL probably to keep the street gangs from getting their hands on it. If you purchase on line just keep in mind that you do pay shipping but you do not pay sales tax. Figure out your box cost and usually its lower than buying locally. This will most likely hold true for 500-1,000 round purchases which that is how I buy.

[MikeH1]

I purchase all my ammo on line and they ship just fine. Except I live in Orange County. I believe the City of Los Angeles requires the ammo to be sent to a FFL probably to keep the street gangs from getting their hands on it. If you purchase on line just keep in mind that you do pay shipping but you do not pay sales tax. Figure out your box cost and usually its lower than buying locally. This will most likely hold true for 500-1,000 round purchases which that is how I buy.

City of L.A. has a lot of asinine laws that discourage people here from buying ammo. For instance, you have to give a thumbprint. Tough to do online. I don't have a problem getting ammo shipped to me. Some vendors do, some don't.

[RRangel]

I purchase all my ammo on line and they ship just fine. Except I live in Orange County. I believe the City of Los Angeles requires the ammo to be sent to a FFL probably to keep the street gangs from getting their hands on it. If you purchase on line just keep in mind that you do pay shipping but you do not pay sales tax. Figure out your box cost and usually its lower than buying locally. This will most likely hold true for 500-1,000 round purchases which that is how I buy.

Ok, I see this often. Would you kindly show me where there is a law that says residents in Los Angeles can't receive mail order ammo? There is definitely restrictions on retail businesses that sell, but that isn't the same thing.

[Scooterg55]

It is stated on several websites that shipping cannot occur to the City of Los Angeles. Check the shipping policies page.

Ok, I see this often. Would you kindly show me where there is a law that says residents in Los Angeles can't receive mail order ammo? There is definitely restrictions on retail businesses that sell, but that isn't the same thing.

[RRangel]

It is stated on several websites that shipping cannot occur to the City of Los Angeles. Check the shipping policies page.

There is a difference between a business policy and actual written law.

[nick]

Hey Guys,

I was doing some research on prices for ammo and stumbled on a few sites that refuse to ship to Los Angeles.

Example:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/ammunition_requirements.html

That sparks the question, has some new law passed that does not allow ammo to be bought online? If not, why are some companies not shipping to Los Angeles?

Thanks.

It's not a new law, it's been around for a while now, I believe. The City of Los Angeles has quite a few stupid gun laws. However, they don't apply to cities around it.

[SJgunguy24]

L.A. muni code 55.09 is restrictions on ammo sales. 55.11 is a requirement to record info about the person buying the ammo.

[RRangel]

L.A. muni code 55.09 is restrictions on ammo sales. 55.11 is a requirement to record info about the person buying the ammo.

There's nothing about online or mail order there. That's what I was trying to get across. As you stated municipal code 55.11 applies to retail vendors, but within the city. The new laws that just passed added more regulation to sellers. Unless the city is hiding other laws regarding shipping I don't see them.

SEC. 55.09. AMMUNITION SALES.

(Added by Ord. No. 165,930, Eff. 6/5/90.)

(a) The term “firearm ammunition”, as used in this section, shall include any ammunition for use in pistols, revolvers, rifles, shot guns, or any other device designed to be used as a weapon from which is expelled a projectile by the force of explosion or other form of combustion.

(b) Except as specified in Subsection (c) and (d), no person, including retail gun dealers, shall sell, give, lend or transfer ownership of any firearm ammunition during the period of seven days prior to the first day of January of each year or on the first day of January of each year, or during the seven days prior to the Fourth of July of each year or on the Fourth of July of each year.

(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sale or transfer of ownership of firearm ammunition by a wholesale gun dealer to another wholesale gun dealer or by a wholesale gun dealer to a retail gun dealer, or of ammunition requested by Section 12324 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit sale to or acquisition by any person described in Section 12302 or 12322 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale of any firearm ammunition when such sale is prohibited by Sections 12303, 12303.6, 12304 or 12321 of the Penal Code of the State of California, or is otherwise prohibited by Chapter 2.5, Title 2, Part 4, of the Penal Code of the State of California.

[SuperA92]

Hmm, alright, I did some more research.

Forumguy, you posted SEC 55.09 - and you right, it doesn't say anything about the online selling or mail order sales, but take a look at this....

SEC 55.11 RECORDS OF AMMUNITION SALES

You can go here...

http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=amlegal:lamc_ca

and type in 55.11 in quick search and take a look, but I will also post it here..

(Amended by Ord. No. 172,002, Eff. 6/5/98.)

4. the brand, type and amount of ammunition transferred,

and

6. the name of the sales person who processed the transaction.

The vendor shall also at the time of purchase or transfer obtain the right thumb print of the purchaser or transferee on the above form.

(d) The records required by this section shall be maintained on the premises of the vendor for a period of not less than two (2) years from the date of the recorded transfer. Said records shall be subject to inspection at any time during normal business hours in accordance with the provisions of Section 103.14 of this Code.

(e) No person shall knowingly make a false entry in, or fail to make a required entry in, or fail to obtain the required thumb print, or fail to maintain in the required manner records prepared in accordance herewith. No person shall refuse to permit a police department employee to examine any record prepared in accordance with this section during any inspection conducted pursuant to this section, or refuse to permit the use of any record or information therefrom by the police department.

(f) The requirements of this section shall not apply to:

1. any person described in Section 12302 or 12322 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

2. any off-duty peace officer who displays proper agency identification which identifies him or her as an active peace officer.

3. any person who has been issued a permit to carry a concealed weapon under the authority of Section 12050 of the Penal Code of the State of California

4. any security guard licensed under the authority of Section 12033 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

5. any firearms dealer who has been issued a Federal Firearms License, a Certificate of Eligibility by the State of California and a Seller of Firearms Police Permit by the City of Los Angeles.

(g) Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Taking a look at this, it seems that a retailer will need to record a fingerprint as well as a signature; which online, out of state retailers do not do.

I suppose this means that people in Los Angeles County are not allowed to buy ammo from online sources, but I think I have seen people buy ammo without giving fingerprints.

[nick]

You're not mixing up the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, right?

[SuperA92]

Hmm, I think you are correct. I believe I did confuse county with city. That would mean fingerprints + signature would only be required in Los Angeles city and not county. That would mean cities such as Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena are free from fingerprint+signature restrictions, correct?

If that is the case, would it only be illegal to buy ammo online in Los Angeles CITY?

[AlexBreya]

Even though most people hate Sportsmansguide, just do it. I've purchased well over 4,000 rounds from them, and every time, i receive my order within a week. I live in Menlo Park btw.

[nick]

Hmm, I think you are correct. I believe I did confuse county with city. That would mean fingerprints + signature would only be required in Los Angeles city and not county. That would mean cities such as Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena are free from fingerprint+signature restrictions, correct?

If that is the case, would it only be illegal to buy ammo online in Los Angeles CITY?

That's correct. I live in Santa Monica, and buy ammunition online. I also buy it locally, but not in L.A, as I don't think it's the City of L.A.'s business what I'm buying, as long as I'm not buying anything illegal.

[RRangel]

(b) The term “vendor”, as used in this section, shall mean any person who is engaged in the retail sale of firearm ammunition and retail firearms dealers.

This law applies to retail "vendors" within Los Angeles city. They are officially regulated to do sales within the city, or why would the law be so specific? I'm not a lawyer, but it doesn't appear to restrict mail order or ammunition sales otherwise, and it was also criticized for this very reason in the media.