HISTORIC VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Governor Gavin Newsom Signs First-In-The-Nation Legislation to Stop the Spread of DIY Machine Guns

Supporters of AB 1127 Sent Nearly 135,000 Messages to Lawmakers and Made Over 2,400 Calls Urging Its Passage

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, issued the following statements after Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1127 into law. The legislation prohibits gun dealers from selling firearms that can be easily converted into fully automatic weapons through the simple installation of a switch, which enables pistols to fire at a rate of up to 1,200 rounds per minute. The legislation would not affect law enforcement nor force current owners of these weapons to relinquish their firearms.

"We applaud Governor Newsom and state lawmakers for putting California at the forefront of the fight against DIY machine guns, which are just as scary as they sound," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "It speaks volumes about the gun industry's fixation on profits that only a new law can force it to take the most basic steps to prevent mass carnage."

"Governor Newsom, state lawmakers, and California volunteers continue to prove that the days of putting gun industry profits over our lives are long gone," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "DIY machine guns should never have had a pathway onto our streets, and today, we're taking a big step to get them out of our communities. Our movement will keep fighting to hold reckless gun manufacturers accountable - because they shouldn't get to profit off our tragedies."

"As parents and lawmakers, we refuse to stand idly by while our schools and communities are being threatened by illegal machine guns. This commonsense legislation will ensure that the gun industry is held accountable and that we are doing everything possible to protect our communities from mass shootings," said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. "I am proud that California is once again leading the nation with commonsense gun safety laws, and I am grateful to Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Stefani, Moms Demand Action, and the incredible survivors, volunteers, and advocates who made this victory possible."

"My son Greg Najee Grimes was a good father, a loving son, and community leader in Sacramento whose life was ended by a pistol turned into a homemade machine gun. Today is a victory for him," said Deborah Grimes, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action and survivor of gun violence. "The gun industry doesn't get to write the rules in California. We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for putting people first and keeping Californians safe from gun violence."

"Gun makers chose profits over public safety. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom rights a wrong by choosing people over guns," said Emmy MacRae, a leader with UC Davis Students Demand Action. "DIY machine guns don't belong in our communities - not in schools, not in parks, not in homes. Governor Newsom's leadership ensures dealers can't put pistols on their shelves that can be far too easily converted into a machine gun. Thank you, Governor, for choosing Californians over the gun lobby."

AB 1127 was introduced by gun sense champion Asm. Jesse Gabriel and former Moms Demand Leader Asm. Catherine Stefani. The bill was championed by Attorney General Rob Bonta, and a broad coalition of diverse and thoughtful state and national leaders including medical, voting rights and human rights organizations.

This year marks three years since a converted pistol, turned into a DIY machine gun, was used in a Sacramento shooting that left six people dead and twelve others injured. Police recovered more than 110 shell casings at the scene.

Machine guns are prohibited under California state law. But because the gun industry has chosen to put profits over public safety, firearms that can be easily converted into machine guns are readily available. AB 1127 would stop future retail sales of pistols that can be easily modified into DIY machine guns in an effort to prevent these deadly weapons from continuing to flood our streets.

AB 1127 will have an important impact on public safety but only a small impact on how many types of pistols are available on the retail market: the majority of pistols available for sale in California, including by some of the largest manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Taurus, and others don't have this problem and would continue to be sold across the state. If the manufacturers impacted by the bill decide to fix the dangerous design that allows their guns to be easily converted into machine guns, they can resume selling in California as long as they comply with other existing laws.

More information about the gun safety laws championed by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers in California is available here. Statistics about gun violence in California are available here, and Everytown's Gun Law Navigator - which shows how California's gun laws compare to those of other states - is available here.

To speak with a policy expert at Everytown or a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action or Student Demand Action, please reach out to [email protected].