Supreme Court declines to hear case on California gun law

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear a challenge to California's 10-day waiting period for people seeking to buy a firearm.

The refusal left in place a ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that called the mandatory waiting period a "reasonable safety precaution."

The high court's decision comes amid a national debate on gun control after a shooting at a South Florida high school killed 17 students and teachers last week.

Justice Clarence Thomas was on the only member of the Supreme Court to dissent, saying lower courts haven't afforded "the Second Amendment the respect due an enumerated constitutional right."

California is one of eight states that require waiting periods before the purchase of a gun; other than Hawaii, it is the longest cooling off period.

The challenge to the waiting period came from Jeff Silvester and the CalGuns Foundation, who said the wait was unnecessary for people purchasing a second firearm.