California’s strict gun laws are poised to become even more stringent. The state legislature is expected to vote next month on a measure that would ban the sale of new Glock handguns — one of the most widely owned brands of firearms in the United States.
If signed into law, California would become the first state to ban sales of the popular handgun model. Even California’s own Kamala Harris told “60 Minutes” that she owns one.
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Democrats are likely to pass the bill in the legislature. However, it’s unclear whether Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign it. The uncertainty comes just weeks after Newsom became a gun owner himself.
Newsom receives gun as a gift
Newsom recently accepted a handgun as a gift from conservative podcast host Shawn Ryan. According to reports, it is Newsom’s first registered firearm.
“Oh geez, what have you got me?” Newsom said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”
“You know, the last thing people would expect is I respect this gift,” Newsom continued. “I’m not anti-gun at all.”
Although he accepted the firearm, Newsom left it behind in Tennessee — for now. In order to bring it to California, he must comply with his own state’s gun laws.
According to Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, in order to legally acquire the firearm, Newsom would need to have it shipped from a licensed dealer in Tennessee to a registered firearms dealer in California.
Paredes said Newsom would have to pass a background check, be fingerprinted, take and pass a handgun safety test, sign an affidavit, provide proof of address in person and pay all applicable state fees and taxes.
Newsom says he supports rights of gun owners
During the interview, Newsom said he supports the right to bear arms and doesn’t consider himself opposed to gun ownership.
“I’m for just some common sense that I think the vast majority of folks on the right and left agree on, and I think we’ve lost a little touch on common sense,” Newsom said. “Otherwise, people have the right to bear arms, and I’ve got no ideological opposition to that at all.”
Advocates for the bill’s passage
Supporters of the proposed ban argue the goal is to prevent the illegal modification of Glocks into fully automatic weapons using devices known as Glock switches.
California and more than two dozen other states have banned Glock switches. No states, however, have previously restricted Glock handguns.
The bill’s author, California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, said the legislation would compel gun manufacturers to alter their designs if they wish to continue doing business in California.
“Most handgun designs don’t have this issue, and this legislation is narrowly focused on a limited number of designs that are exceptionally easy to modify,” Gabriel said. “Sadly, certain actors in the gun industry have known about this issue for decades and have refused to do anything meaningful to address it. AB 1127 is a common-sense solution. It will save lives and make California safer for all of our children.”
Critics warn of ‘slippery slope’
Opponents of the legislation argue it sets a dangerous precedent. Gunsmith Alex Lopez of Western Firearms wrote in a blog post of what he believes will come next if the bill passes.
“If a firearm can be banned simply because it could be illegally modified, what’s next? Using that logic, just about any firearm could be restricted,” Lopez wrote. “This bill is another example of legislation that targets tools instead of behavior, making it harder for good people to defend themselves, run businesses or enjoy their constitutional rights.”
What comes next?
The legislation does not require current Glock owners in California to surrender their firearms. Instead, it would prohibit licensed dealers from selling new Glock models in the state.
If the bill passes, and Newsom signs it into law, legal challenges are likely. That could delay enforcement and make it unclear when — or if — gun stores will need to pull Glocks from their shelves.
