AB 1127 Explained — The California Glock Ban, DOJ Lawsuit, and What Gun Owners Need to Know
The AB 1127 California Glock ban took effect July 1, 2026, after Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law on October 10, 2025. California dealers are now prohibited from selling most Glock pistols and a wide range of similar striker-fired handguns. Then, on the same day the ban took effect, the United States Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit challenging both AB 1127 and California’s broader Handgun Roster as unconstitutional. If you’re looking for handguns still available from California dealers, browse our California FFL directory to find a local licensed dealer.
This is the most significant legal development in California firearms law in years — and it’s still unfolding.
What Does AB 1127 Actually Say?
AB 1127 amends California Penal Code section 27595 to prohibit dealers from selling any “semiautomatic machine-gun convertible pistol” — defined as a semiautomatic pistol equipped with a cruciform trigger bar that can be converted to fire automatically by installing a drop-in auto sear (commonly called a “Glock switch”).
The law targets the mechanical design shared by Glock pistols and dozens of similar striker-fired handguns. Because the cruciform trigger bar is inherent to the Glock operating system, virtually all Glock Gen 3, Gen 4, and Gen 5 pistols are affected.
California’s own Senate legislative analysis stated plainly: “the practical effect of the bill is to prohibit the sale of Glock handguns in California.”
The US DOJ Lawsuit — Breaking Development
On July 1, 2026 — the same day AB 1127 took effect — the United States Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against California and Attorney General Rob Bonta, challenging both AB 1127 and California’s broader Handgun Roster as unconstitutional restrictions on Second Amendment rights.
The DOJ lawsuit argues that California’s roster system — which has blocked virtually all new semi-automatic pistol models since 2013 due to microstamping requirements — unconstitutionally restricts Americans’ access to commonly owned firearms protected under the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022).
This is a landmark development. A federal lawsuit filed by the DOJ itself carries far more weight than the private lawsuits that have challenged California’s gun laws for years. While no injunction has been issued blocking AB 1127 as of this writing, the legal challenge could ultimately invalidate both the new Glock ban and the roster system that has restricted California gun buyers since 2001.
We will update this article as the lawsuit progresses.
Which Guns Are Affected by the AB 1127 California Glock Ban?
AB 1127 does not name Glock specifically. It targets any pistol with a “cruciform trigger bar” — a design feature that makes Glock-style pistols compatible with illegal auto-conversion devices.
Glock models affected (most Gen 3, 4, and 5):
- Glock 17 — 9mm Full Size
- Glock 19 — 9mm Compact (one of the most popular handguns in California)
- Glock 19X — 9mm Compact
- Glock 22 — .40 S&W Full Size
- Glock 23 — .40 S&W Compact
- Glock 26 — 9mm Subcompact
- Glock 34 — 9mm Competition
- Glock 20SF — 10mm
- Glock 21SF — .45 ACP
- Glock 30SF — .45 ACP Compact
Glock-pattern clones and similar striker-fired designs with the same cruciform trigger bar are also affected, including some Shadow Systems models.
What is NOT affected:
- DA/SA pistols (Beretta 92FS, SIG P226, HK USP, CZ 75)
- Revolvers of any kind
- 1911-style pistols
- Hammer-fired handguns
- Private ownership of Glocks you already own
- Private party transfers (PPT) of legally-owned Glocks
[Browse all California legal handguns still available from dealers →](https://calgunroster.com/)
Can I Still Own My Glock in California?
Yes. The AB 1127 California Glock ban only restricts dealer sales going forward. If you legally own a Glock in California, you can:
- Continue to own and possess it legally
- Use it at ranges
- Carry it with a valid CCW permit
- Sell it through a private party transfer (PPT) to another California resident
- Pass it to family members through legal transfer
The law does not require existing Glock owners to surrender their firearms.
Can I Still Buy a Glock Through Private Party Transfer?
Yes. Private party transfers are specifically exempt from the AB 1127 California Glock ban. If a California resident legally owns a Glock, they can sell it to another California resident through a licensed FFL dealer using the PPT process.
Expect to pay a significant premium over pre-July 2026 retail prices. The Glock 19 was selling for $500-600 new — PPT prices for desirable models have already increased substantially.
What Handguns Are Still Available From California Dealers?
Many excellent handguns remain on the California Roster and are unaffected by the AB 1127 California Glock ban:
Best hammer-fired alternatives:
- [Beretta 92FS](https://calgunroster.com/guns/beretta-92fs/) — iconic 9mm, 4.9″ barrel, DA/SA
- [Beretta PX4 Storm](https://calgunroster.com/guns/beretta-px4-storm-type-f-jxf9f20/) — 9mm, rotating barrel, soft-shooting
- [HK VP9](https://calgunroster.com/guns/heckler-koch-vp9-match/) — outstanding trigger, full-size 9mm
- [SIG Sauer P365](https://calgunroster.com/guns/sig-sauer-365-9-bxr3p-ms-ca/) — micro-compact 9mm, CA-compliant versions available
Revolvers:
- [Smith & Wesson revolvers](https://calgunroster.com/make/smith-wesson/) — dozens of CA-legal models
- [Ruger revolvers](https://calgunroster.com/make/sturm-ruger-co/) — extensive California-certified lineup
1911-style pistols:
- [Kimber 1911 series](https://calgunroster.com/make/kimber/) — premium CA-legal options
- [Springfield Armory 1911](https://calgunroster.com/make/springfield-armory/) — multiple CA-legal models
[Browse all 932 California legal handguns →](https://calgunroster.com/)
The Manufacturer Resubmission Window
One underreported provision of the AB 1127 California Glock ban: manufacturers have until January 1, 2027 to modify affected handgun models and resubmit for DOJ roster testing — without needing to meet the microstamping requirement that has blocked new semi-automatic pistols since 2013.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who introduced AB 1127, stated he hopes the law forces Glock to change its trigger design so that illegal switches no longer work. If Glock or another manufacturer modifies the cruciform trigger bar design before the deadline, those modified models could return to the California Roster.
Whether that happens before the 2027 deadline — and whether the DOJ lawsuit changes the landscape entirely — remains to be seen.
What Is the Microstamping Connection?
The DOJ federal lawsuit targets not just AB 1127 but California’s entire Handgun Roster system, including the 2013 microstamping requirement that has prevented any new semi-automatic pistol from being added to the roster for over a decade.
If the federal courts rule in the DOJ’s favor, the microstamping requirement could be struck down — potentially reopening the California market to modern handgun designs that have been unavailable to California buyers for 13 years.
This is why the DOJ lawsuit is so significant. It’s not just about the Glock ban — it’s about the entire structure of California’s handgun restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Glock 19 legal to buy from a dealer in California?
No — as of July 1, 2026, AB 1127 prohibits California dealers from selling the Glock 19. It can still be acquired through private party transfer.
Can I buy a Glock online and ship it to a California FFL?
No. The restriction applies to the dealer transfer regardless of where the gun was originally purchased.
Will the DOJ lawsuit stop AB 1127?
No injunction has been issued as of this writing. AB 1127 is currently in effect. The lawsuit could ultimately result in the law being struck down, but that process takes years in federal court.
What guns can I still buy from a California dealer?
Hammer-fired pistols, revolvers, 1911-style pistols, and any striker-fired design that does not use a cruciform trigger bar. [Search the full CA Roster here](https://calgunroster.com/).
Does AB 1127 affect the guns I already own?
No. The AB 1127 California Glock ban does not affect guns you already own. Existing legally-owned Glocks are not affected. The law only restricts new dealer sales going forward.
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This article will be updated as the DOJ lawsuit and AB 1127 California Glock ban legal challenges develop. Cal Gun Roster is an independent database resource. All information is for educational purposes. Verify current California law with a licensed firearms dealer or attorney.