California lawmakers will have a hearing Wednesday, May 7, on a recently introduced a bill that would ban certain machine gun-convertible pistols in the state. While gun rights advocates are calling the legislation the “Glock ban bill” because Glock manufactures popular pistols that can be converted into an automatic weapon using an attachment, gun control advocates are lauding the move as a necessary step to prevent mass shootings.
California’s Assembly Bill 1127, introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, would prohibit a licensed firearms seller from dealing in any semiautomatic pistol that is easily “converted by hand or with common household tools” into a machine gun.
After being amended, the bill awaits another hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee scheduled for Wednesday.
Gabriel introduced the bill three years after six people were killed and another 12 were wounded during a Sacramento shooting in which more than 100 rounds were fired from Glocks equipped with switch technology.
How does a Glock switch work?
Glock switch technology turns semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic firearms. It’s already against federal law to own a machine gun without prior approval from, and registration with, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
However, even with federal permission, California bans fully-automatic firearms. California law also states that the sale of pistol switches is illegal. The bill does not apply to law enforcement officers, military members or current owners of the weapons.
Support from gun control groups
In a press release, gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety lauded the legislation, saying that Glock has long been aware that its firearms can be turned into illegal machine guns “with just a screwdriver and a $25 switch,” but “refused” to address the issue.
“With this new measure,” Everytown for Gun Safety writes, “California lawmakers are telling Glock and its copycats, loudly and clearly, that if they fail to take reasonable steps to fix this problem to prevent these illegal conversions, they will be forced to stop selling their firearms in California.”
Opposition from gun rights advocates
Meanwhile, the National Association for Gun Rights opposes the measure, and accused California of “pushing rapidly towards a total ban of Glock pistols.”
“The most popular firearm in the country. If you think there is a line they will not cross, think again,” the group posted on X.
Gun Owners of California President Sam Paredes told KXTV that should the bill become law, gun rights groups will immediately file legal challenges.
Glock has not yet responded to the proposed legislation.
