California Bans Sale of New Glocks Due to Glock Switch Concerns: Impact on Gun Owners and Legislation
Glocks are widely popular handguns in California, with even former Vice President Kamala Harris owning one. However, a new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom prohibits the sale of new Glock guns in the state. This ban was put in place due to concerns about the ease of modifying the gun with a plastic piece called a "Glock Switch" that can turn it into a fully automatic weapon. While Glock switches are already illegal, California lawmakers passed a bill to outlaw the sale of any new gun with a Glock-like design, aiming to push Glock to change its design to prevent such modifications.
Assembly Bill 1127, introduced by Southern California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, hopes to prompt Glock to modify its design to prevent the use of switches. Despite the ban on new Glock sales, the law does not restrict the possession or resale of used Glocks in California. Gun store owner Eddie Ford explained that Glocks are popular due to their customizable nature and reliability, but newer models with added features to block the Glock switch have not been approved for sale in California.
While the new law aims to reduce incidents involving modified Glocks, Ford believes that the availability of millions of Glocks on the streets may still lead to their use by criminals. The tragic loss of Greg "Najee' Grimes, who was shot with a modified Glock, highlights the devastating impact of gun violence. His mother, Deborah Grimes, advocates for stricter gun laws through the Moms Demand Action group, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The use of a modified Glock in Najee's shooting underscores the need for stricter regulations on gun modifications. If Glock were to redesign its guns to prevent such modifications, they could potentially be sold in California again. However, the current design was grandfathered in before the state's stringent gun certification laws were enacted in 2001, requiring any new design to undergo a lengthy certification process. The passage of AB 1127 faced opposition from Republican lawmakers, who argued that the bill unfairly targets potential Glock purchasers and limits access to a popular handgun.