California bans Glocks

California is on the verge of implementing a controversial ban on the sale of popular Glock pistols and their equivalents – according to the state legislature's recently passed AB 1127, which has already been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom. If signed into law, from July 1, 2026, licensed firearms dealers will no longer be allowed to offer, transfer, or sell firearms that can easily be converted into fully automatic weapons using the so-called "Glock switch".

The bill was introduced in response to the rise in crimes involving pistols modified to shoot in full auto. The "Glock switch" allows for nearly instant conversion of a legal pistol into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute – the device has been increasingly found at crime scenes in California and across the country.

The ban will not affect current owners of such firearms, law enforcement, or the military; they will not be required to surrender or cease using their weapons. The bill provides dealers with a six-month transition period to sell products ordered before the law takes effect, in order to avoid sudden financial losses. Private transactions between individuals will still be permitted.

Although the ban will primarily impact Glock pistols (currently, over 50 models are listed as "safe" and approved for sale), the vast majority of other pistols – from manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Taurus, and others – are not susceptible to this kind of modification and will still be available in California. The law allows for the possibility that if manufacturers choose to modify the trigger designs to prevent the installation of the "Glock switch", these models could return to legal sale.

Organizations such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action emphasize the public safety aspect and the effectiveness of the new measures in combating crime. Opponents, however, argue that this constitutes excessive interference with citizens' rights and could lead to the growth of the black market or increased prices on the secondary market. Critics also point out that new generations of Glocks are already only available in limited quantities in California, and that the ban could worsen the problem — without eliminating the illegal conversion of firearms by criminals.

And, of course, this change in the law, just like many government actions in Poland, is an example of incomprehensible logic, where law-abiding citizens are punished for the actions of those breaking the law. Once these regulations come into effect, legal gun owners in California will be deprived of the ability to purchase Glocks, while criminals... will still buy whatever they want because they don't follow the law.

Source: guns.com