Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed two major gun control bills Friday, further tightening California’s already restrictive firearm laws and targeting both handgun sales and firearm parts. The legislation includes a sweeping ban on new Glock pistols and a separate law requiring extensive background checks and fees for purchasing gun barrels.
The “Glock Ban” – Assembly Bill 1127
Under Assembly Bill 1127, California will ban the sale of new Glock-brand pistols and similar firearms beginning July 1, 2026. The law reclassifies these widely used handguns as “machinegun-convertible pistols” because of their compatibility with illegal “Glock switches”—small devices that can turn a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon.
Though “Glock switches” are already federally banned and used primarily by criminals and gang members, California Democrats have responded by outlawing one of the most popular and reliable handguns among law-abiding citizens.
The bill defines a “machinegun-convertible pistol” as any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be modified with household tools or parts to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. The new classification effectively turns a standard Glock into a “machinegun” under California law, prohibiting its sale, possession, manufacture, or transportation once equipped with a converter.
Gun Barrel Control – Senate Bill 704
Governor Newsom also signed Senate Bill 704, which will take effect July 1, 2027. This law requires all gun barrel sales to go through licensed firearms dealers and mandates a comprehensive “eligibility check” for buyers. A $5 fee will be added to every barrel transaction to fund the checks.
The required information for a barrel purchase will include the buyer’s name, date of birth, ID number, address, telephone number, firearm make and model, and more. Dealers must record all information on forms prescribed by the California Department of Justice. Failure to comply could result in penalties.
Critics say the law creates a burdensome process for purchasing a simple gun part and unnecessarily targets legal gun owners, while doing little to stop criminals who obtain firearms through illegal means.
Political Fallout and Second Amendment Concerns
Both laws are part of a broader push by California Democrats to expand gun control under the guise of public safety. However, critics argue the measures punish lawful gun owners and impose regulations that criminals routinely ignore.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation has already called out the Glock ban, noting it affects tens of thousands of law-abiding Californians who rely on the pistol for personal protection and sport shooting.
As the state tightens its grip on firearms, legal challenges are expected. Gun rights groups have already begun preparing lawsuits, arguing the laws infringe on constitutional rights and target legal firearm use instead of criminal behavior.
