Poway Gun Retailer Joins Lawsuit Against California’s Glock Ban

Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted AB 1127, a law prohibiting the sale of firearms that can be easily modified into machine guns using household tools. This legislation targets popular handguns, including Glocks and similar models. Following the law’s passage, a coalition consisting of the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, and local businesses, including Poway Weapons and Gear, initiated legal action in federal court in San Diego to contest the ban.

The lawsuit argues that the law infringes on constitutional rights by categorizing semi-automatic Glocks as machine guns under a vague definition. Bill Sack, the director of legal operations at the Second Amendment Foundation, stated, “The argument is that it’s too easy to turn them into illegal machine guns, and therefore the guns themselves in their semi-automatic form need to be banned. This was done unconstitutionally, and that’s what our lawsuit addresses.”

Glocks are among the most widely used handguns in the United States, favored by military, law enforcement, and civilians for self-defense. Statistics from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reveal that over 8% of pistols sold in the U.S. are manufactured by Glock. Additionally, a survey published by PubMed Central indicates that more than 23% of gun owners possess at least one Glock.

While proponents of gun rights oppose the ban, groups advocating for stricter gun regulations, such as San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention, support the new law. Ron Marcus, Vice President of Communications for the group, remarked, “The Second Amendment was never intended to be a blank check that allowed unregulated use of guns.”

Sack countered this sentiment, asserting that the vast majority of firearms are used lawfully, emphasizing that individuals committing violent crimes are unlikely to comply with a Glock ban.

The California Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta, expressed its commitment to defending the state’s gun laws. In a recent email, the press office stated, “The California Department of Justice will continue to defend California’s commonsense gun laws. Beyond that, we will respond as appropriate in court.”

The implementation of the ban is scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, with all sales ceasing by July 1, 2026. The legal complaint notes, “Effective July 1, 2026, licensed firearms dealers shall not sell, offer for sale, exchange, give, transfer, or deliver any semi-automatic machine-gun convertible pistol.”

As the lawsuit unfolds, the debate surrounding gun rights and regulations in California continues to intensify, reflecting a broader national conversation on the balance between public safety and individual rights.