California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1127 into law, blocking the sale of new Glock handguns in the state over concerns that their design can be easily modified to become fully automatic.
The legislation, introduced by Southern California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, passed along party lines in the state legislature. It targets the ease with which Glocks can be altered using a small, 3D-printed attachment known as a Glock switch — a device the size of a Lego brick that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a machine gun capable of firing dozens of rounds in seconds.
Although Glock switches are already banned under federal law, state lawmakers argued that the firearm’s design flaw made such conversions too accessible. The new law does not outlaw ownership of existing Glocks or the resale of used models within California. Instead, it focuses on halting new sales until Glock produces a redesign that prevents illegal modification.
“They have known about this design flaw for years,” said Assemblymember Gabriel. “If Glock changes it, we could save lives.”
California — the nation’s third-largest firearms market — has some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S., including a roster of approved handgun models that must meet state safety standards. Glock’s newer model includes a safeguard meant to block the switch device, but it has not yet received approval from the state attorney general’s office for sale.
Gun store owner Eddie Ford said the ban won’t reduce the number of Glock-related crimes. “There are still millions of Glocks already on the streets,” he said. “If criminals want them, they’ll get them.”