SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements following the Assembly passage of AB 1127. The legislation would prohibit gun dealers from selling firearms that can be easily converted into fully automatic weapons through the simple installation of a Glock switch, which enables the pistols to fire at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute. The legislation would not apply to law enforcement nor would it impact current owners of these guns. AB 1127 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“No one needs a pistol that can be turned into a machine gun,” said Pedro Ventura, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action in California. “Banning Glock switches was a good start, but the threat has grown. These devices are easier to get and deadlier than ever. AB 1127 steps up by holding gun makers accountable. If they won’t modify the design, they can’t sell the gun. It’s that simple. We’re grateful to Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for leading the way, and we urge the Senate to get this bill across the finish line.”
“As a student, I see how gun violence is everywhere, at school, in our communities, and even all over social media,” said Landon Block, a volunteer with Students Demand Action from San Diego. “This vote is a big step toward fixing a serious gap in California’s gun laws. Glock switches turn certain pistols into machine guns, and they’re way too easy to get, despite California’s ban. AB 1127 makes it clear that dealers cannot sell pistols that can be easily converted into DIY machine guns in the state of California. The Assembly did their part, and now it’s time for the Senate to step up and pass AB 1127 into law.”
This year marks three years since a converted Glock pistol, turned into a DIY machine gun, was used in a Sacramento shooting that left six people dead and twelve others injured. Police recovered more than 110 shell casings at the scene.
Machine guns are prohibited under California state law. But because the gun industry has chosen to put profits over public safety, firearms that can be easily converted into machine guns are readily available. AB 1127 bans the retail sale of weapons that can be easily modified into DIY machine guns in an effort to prevent these deadly weapons from continuing to flood our streets.
The bill will have an important impact on public safety but only a small impact on how many types of handguns are available on the retail market: the majority of pistols available for sale in California, including by some of the largest manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Taurus, and others don’t have this problem and would continue to be sold across the state. If the manufacturers impacted by the bill decide to fix the dangerous design that allows their guns to be easily converted into machine guns, they can resume selling in California as long as they comply with other existing laws. The bill exempts future sales to law enforcement and the military for use in official duties.
More information about the gun safety laws championed by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers in California is available here. Statistics about gun violence in California are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator – which shows how California’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here.
To speak with a policy expert at Everytown or a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action or Student Demand Action, please reach out to [email protected].