Trump administration sues California over law against Glock pistols

According to the Department of Justice, the state law, called by the federal government “Glock Ban“, violates the Second Amendment of the American Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The action also asks the Court to prevent the application of the so-called “Handgun Roster,” a California list that limits which handguns can be legally sold in the state.

The new law, which came into force this Wednesday, prohibits authorized dealers from selling semi-automatic pistols with a specific type of internal mechanism that, according to supporters of the measure, would facilitate the illegal conversion of the weapon to automatic fire. The rule does not directly mention the Glock brand, but the Department of Justice states that it affects, in practice, Glock pistols and similar weapons.

“The Second Amendment is a sacred right belonging to all Americans, even those in California,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He said the federal government will act to protect the rights of legal gun owners.

The State Department’s lawsuit argues that Glock pistols are widely used by Americans for self-defense and therefore could not be banned by the state.

In addition to the new restriction, the Trump administration also questions the system used by California to define which pistols can be sold in the state. According to the action, the “Handgun Roster” prevents citizens from purchasing modern models of handguns used in other parts of the United States.

The state list requires that new models have specific technical characteristics, such as an ammunition indicator in the chamber and a mechanism that prevents firing when the magazine is removed. According to the Department of Justice, these requirements unconstitutionally restrict citizens’ access to common weapons for personal defense.

California officials defended the law. State Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said gun safety rules have helped reduce gun deaths in the state and serve as a model for combating gun violence nationwide.

Critics of the law celebrated the federal government’s action. Adam Wilson, director of Gun Owners of California, a group that advocates for gun rights in the state, said the state is trying to ban one of the most common weapons in the country. According to him, if California can ban a pistol due to the risk of illegal use, it could apply the same argument against any other type of weapon.

The process asks the Court to declare the law incompatible with the Constitution and prevent its application throughout the state.