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California law restricting easily converted pistols takes effect as Justice Department sues

California gun dealers can no longer sell pistols easily converted to machine guns under a new law challenged by the Justice Department.

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Row of semi-automatic rifles mounted on a grid wall in a gun shop, price tags visible.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 2 (Our California Times) — A California law that bars licensed firearms dealers from selling certain semiautomatic pistols that can be readily converted into machine guns took effect July 1, and the Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block it, according to the complaint described in court reporting.

AB 1127 was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October and was authored by Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel of Encino and Catherine Stefani of San Francisco. State legislative records say the measure expands California’s definition of a machine gun to include a machinegun-convertible pistol equipped with a pistol converter, a device often described as a Glock switch.

The law prohibits dealers from selling, offering for sale, exchanging, giving, transferring or delivering the covered pistols. Legislative records say it also bars the manufacture, sale, possession or transportation of a pistol fitted with a converter.

Supporters said the measure does not affect current owners and includes exemptions for gun dealers, law enforcement and military agencies in future sales.

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Gary Smith

A lifelong Kingman resident, Gary Smith is the senior Kingman reporter for Times Media Service. Smith covers local news in Kingman, including local politics and government, schools, public safety, development and community life, from culture to the city's Route 66 heritage. Smith holds a master's degree in journalism and media studies.

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