After Originally Holding the Bill Lawmakers Advanced AB 1127
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 after the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance 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.
“For far too long, gun makers have turned a blind eye to their role in America’s gun violence epidemic — especially as some of their designs are turned into DIY machine guns in minutes,” said Greg Lickenbrock, Senior Firearms Analyst at Everytown for Gun Safety. “Gun makers have put profits over public safety, staying silent as their products stole futures from entire generations — now it’s up to the California Senate to stop their reckless practices and save lives. We urge lawmakers to act swiftly and pass AB 1127 to stand up to the gun industry and stand for our safety.”
“My generation has grown up in a country where gun violence is part of our daily reality, and the idea that something as deadly as a Glock switch can be so easily added to a handgun is terrifying,” said Ananya Kshirsagar, a volunteer leader with Students Demand Action in California. “Today’s vote advancing AB 1127 shows that California lawmakers are listening to young people like me who just want to feel safe in our schools and communities. We need one last vote and then we can finally send this bill to the Governor’s desk.”
Here’s What to Know About AB 1127:
- Current gun owners and law enforcement won’t be affected by this bill. AB 1127 would not require current gun owners to dispose of the machinegun-convertible pistols they already own. The bill also exempts future sales to law enforcement and the military. It won’t be illegal to possess these guns under the new law, and it also does not impact a current gun owner’s ability to buy ammunition for their weapon, take it to a gunsmith, sell it in a private sale, or pass it down to family members.
- This bill would prohibit the sale of pistols that are easily convertible to machine guns. On the federal level, machine guns have been highly regulated since the 1930s, and civilians cannot own machine guns manufactured after May 1986. Machine guns are also prohibited under California state law. But because the gun industry has chosen to put profits over public safety, pistols that can be easily converted into machine guns are readily available. AB 1127 stops the future sale of pistols that can be easily modified into DIY machine guns in an effort to prevent these deadly weapons from continuing to flood our streets.
- The majority of the firearm market will not be impacted. 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. Nothing in this legislation would prohibit their continued sale in the state.
- This bill protects small business owners. Gun dealers will still be allowed to sell their inventory of the pistols outlined by the bill that they acquired before the law goes into effect, avoiding sudden financial losses and giving them time to adjust — a balanced approach that supports small businesses while improving public safety. AB 1127 also allows gun dealers to continue selling these guns to law enforcement. The bill is narrowly focused on keeping these easily convertible guns out of the civilian retail market.
- A stop on a dangerous design. If gun manufacturers affected by this legislation take steps to ensure their pistols are no longer convertible with switches and otherwise comply with California law, they can sell them again at retail. AB 1127’s definition is technical and specific – it only applies to pistols with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted into a machinegun by hand or with common household tools like a screwdriver or file.
- “Glock switch” bans work, but they’re not enough. Machine gun conversion devices, like Glock switches, have been illegal under federal and California law for decades. But now, people can make them with 3D printers and move them easily because they’re small. This makes it harder for police to find them, and criminals are taking advantage of this new technology. Between 2017 and 2021, the ATF reported a 570% increase in machine gun conversion devices nationwide from the preceding five years.
Today, lawmakers also advanced AB 15. The legislation would provide more transparency and equitable access to justice and healing by creating a process for family members to request a case file review for open unsolved homicide cases.
AB 15 would increase communication between law enforcement and homicide victims’ family members by requiring that the law enforcement agency provide periodic updates to the family member who requests a case file review, and provide a written statement of the agency’s decision regarding whether to conduct a full reinvestigation. Solving gun crimes is an important part of preventing gun violence, and creating a process for survivors to request an unsolved case file review can increase community trust in law enforcement, break cycles of violence, and help address trauma and promote healing among survivors of gun violence.
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.
A previous statement reacted to the original holding of the legislation.
To speak with a policy expert at Everytown or a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action about AB 1127, please reach out to [email protected].