Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on October 10 restricting the sale of certain semiautomatic handguns in California — particularly Glock models and similar firearms that can be easily modified with devices known as “Glock switches” or “auto sears,” which can turn a handgun into a machine gun.

The measure, known as Assembly Bill 1127, expands the state’s definition of a “machine gun” and bars retailers from selling such firearms beginning in 2026, although it does not prohibit ownership. Exceptions are made for private sales and law enforcement use.

The goal is to curb the use of these illegal conversion devices, which can be homemade or 3D-printed and enable weapons to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), seizures of such devices increased by 570% between 2017 and 2021.

 

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The law follows years of criticism of Glock for maintaining designs that allow such modifications. States including New Jersey, Minnesota, and Maryland — as well as cities such as Chicago and Baltimore — have already filed lawsuits against the manufacturer over the issue.

Shortly after the law’s enactment, the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a lawsuit claiming the measure violates the Second Amendment by restricting some of the most popular firearms in the country. However, experts point out that the law does not ban existing handguns or all firearms — only the sale of models with a design that makes automatic conversion possible.

California, one of the top three states for gun sales in 2023, aims to pressure manufacturers to redesign their weapons and curb the spread of illegal automatic firearms.

 

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