Special Agent Kenton Weston holds two Glock handgun slides, one with a machine gun conversion switch, right, and one without, during a demonstration on the danger of such devices that make handguns fully automatic at the Canton Police Department training facility in Canton on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Sacramento, California – California lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would ban the sale of one of the most popular handguns in the state: the Glock. Assembly Bill 1127, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and backed by a dozen Democratic co-sponsors, targets Glock-style handguns due to their compatibility with illegal “Glock switches”—small devices that can convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. These switches, often made on 3D printers, have been found in increasing numbers at crime scenes, including the 2022 mass shooting near the State Capitol that killed six people.
The legislation has passed the Assembly and is expected to advance through the Democratic-controlled Senate. If signed into law, it would make California the first state to ban the sale of Glock-style handguns based not on how they’re sold, but on how easily they can be illegally modified. Supporters say the bill is narrowly focused on a specific design flaw that has long been exploited by criminals. Critics, however, argue that it opens the door to broader bans on semi-automatic handguns and could set a precedent for restricting other common firearms.
Under AB 1127, Californians who already own Glocks would be allowed to keep them and transfer them in private sales. Police would be exempt from the restrictions. Gun manufacturers could still sell Glock-style handguns in the state—provided they redesign the weapons to make them more resistant to conversion. Opponents say that Glock has already done this in newer models, but the state has not updated its list of approved handguns to reflect those changes.
Adding a layer of political intrigue to the debate is the fact that both Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Gavin Newsom have owned or currently possess handguns. Harris, during a past interview, acknowledged owning a Glock. Newsom recently received a Sig Sauer P365-Xmacro—an entirely different model—as a gift from conservative podcaster Shawn Ryan. While that weapon isn’t affected by AB 1127, it has drawn attention to the hurdles ordinary Californians face when legally acquiring firearms, including background checks, waiting periods, and multiple in-person verifications.
Whether Newsom will sign the bill remains uncertain. His office has said only that he is in the process of lawfully transferring the Sig Sauer to California. If he does complete the purchase, it would be the first firearm registered under his name.
As the debate plays out, both supporters and opponents of AB 1127 agree on one thing: how California handles this bill could shape national conversations about guns, technology, and public safety in the years to come.
