Hey all, we just want to quickly go over some of the new California gun laws that residents in the Golden State will have to contend with this year. Specifically, we are going to touch on four new pieces of legislature which stand to impact the lives of gun owners in California. These new laws impact everything from the storage of firearms to the purchase of specific firearms and accessories which are commonly available and under new scrutiny going forward. Without further ado, let’s examine the new challenges facing California’s gun owners in 2026.
SB-53
Senate Bill No. 53 essentially requires residents to adhere to firearm storage requirements outlined by the state. In short, if a firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by an authorized user, it must be securely stored. According to the bill, this means that the firearm must either be secured in an appropriate gun safe or locked with an adequate lock. Under this bill, the first two violations of this new law are charged as misdemeanors while third and subsequent violations constitute misdemeanors.
Real World Impact
In terms of real world impact on California’s gun owners, shooters will need to be aware of these new regulations and how they dovetail with existing laws. Some shooters may already store their firearms in accordance with this bill’s requirements. Others may need to make changes or purchase things like safes and appropriate locks to stay compliant. Luckily for some gun owners, many firearms, specifically handguns, tend to come with California approved locks from the factory.
SB-53 Timeline
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Introduced: 12/05/2022
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Signed: 09/24/2024
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Effective: 01/01/2026
To read more about SB-53, you can check out the bill in its entirety here.
AB 1127
Assembly Bill No. 1127, most commonly referred to as the “Glock Ban” targets a specific class of semi-automatic pistols. Specifically, the bill prohibits the sale of semi-automatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars, like Glocks and their clones. In the bill, pistols of this type are defined as “machinegun-convertible pistols” due to their ability to accept “pistol converters” as defined by the bill’s text. AB 1127 defines these “pistol converters” as components which attach to the rear of the pistol’s slide, interfering with the standard semi-automatic nature of the pistol and allowing more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. This dovetails with existing laws which criminalize the possession of illegal machineguns, a felony violation. Put plainly, dealers will not be able to sell pistols of this type after 07/01/2026. Any further dealer sales of these banned firearms after the bill goes into effect can incur legal consequences ranging from misdemeanors to license revocations.
Real World Impact
As far as AB 1127’s real world impact on gun owners in California goes, shooters effectively lose access to one of the most popular firearm designs on the planet. Despite recent additions over the years, Californians are constrained by the confines of a roster of approved handguns for sale. This roster is maintained by the CA DoJ and requires manufacturers to renew their approval to keep their handguns legal for sale. In short, by removing these types of handguns, the pistols available to Californian gun owners have taken a large hit as Glocks and similar designs are banned for sale in the state.
On paper, Californians seem to have until 07/01/2026 to get ahold of one of these types of pistols, but the truth is more complicated than that. In reality, prospective owners of handguns from companies like Glock and Shadow Systems really must start their purchase process prior to 06/20/2026. This is due to the fact that Californian gun owners are subjected to a 10 day waiting period. In short, the pistols must actually be released to the buyer no later than 06/30/2026, 10 days after the last possible purchase date. Naturally, the supply of these firearms has been quite volatile since its introduction and signing in 2025, meaning that prospective buyers may face challenges in finding Glock style firearms.
AB 1127 Timeline
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Introduced: 02/20/2025
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Signed: 10/10/2025
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Effective: 07/01/2026
To read more about AB 1127, you can check out the bill in its entirety here.
AB 1263
Assembly Bill No. 1263 is a wide reaching bill which covers things ranging from the manufacture of firearms to the sale of firearms-oriented accessories. In terms of manufacturing, this bill criminalizes the use of 3D printers and CNC machines by unlicensed individuals for the production of firearms. In addition to further restrictions on and criminalization of unlicensed manufacturers, the bill also changes how firearm accessories are to be purchased in the Golden State. Under this new bill, firearm accessories such as triggers, magazines, grips, stocks, and other common accessories are subjected to new purchasing requirements. Specifically, these items now require age verification and can only be delivered to addresses if an adult signature is obtained. This means that sellers in California and those who seek to sell to California must take steps to verify the age of those seeking to purchase accessories. Additionally, there is also a notice to be given to prospective accessory purchasers which outlines the penalties for illegal manufacturing and misconduct at the point of sale.
Real World Impact
Put plainly, it is going to be more of a hassle for California gun owners to acquire a variety of popular accessories. Shooters looking to stock up on common parts for builds, magazines for their firearms, or even small things like springs and replacement parts will ultimately need to contend with this new law. Because of this, and the vagueness of the language defining accessories in the bill, some manufacturers and businesses, like Geissele, have ceased shipment to California customers. In person sales are also impacted as FFLs must now provide accessory buyers with the aforementioned legal notice, verify the purchaser’s age, and secure a signature at the time of sale. These signed notices must then be retained by the sellers, adding to the amount of documents which must be retained by sellers in the Golden State.
AB 1263 Timeline
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Introduced: 02/21/2025
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Signed: 10/10/2025
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Effective: 01/01/2026
To read more about AB 1263, you can check out the bill in its entirety here.
SB-704
Senate Bill No. 704 adds firearm barrels to the types of items which must be transferred to purchasers through an FFL. Under existing law, currently only firearms themselves are subject to such a transfer requirement. This changes on 07/01/2026 as barrel purchases will need to be processed at an FFL. As part of the upcoming process, the FFL is required to conduct an eligibility check on the buyer, much like a firearm purchase, and note pertinent information about the item in question. Eligibility checks, like DoJ DROS background checks for firearms and ammo background checks, will require the FFL to charge a fee. In the case of barrels, FFLs will be required to charge at least $5 per barrel when conducting their eligibility checks.
Real World Impact
California gun owners will now have to contend with additional hurdles in order to purchase barrels for a variety of popular firearms. This is to say that handgun, rifle, and shotgun barrels for firearms in common use are subject to this law. Those seeking to legally build firearms like AR-15s and AR-10s will be particularly impacted by this law. Prospective builders will feel the compounded impact of this bill along with AB 1263 as gathering the components needed for a build will become much more complicated and impeded. The added fee of at least $5 also increases the cost paid by prospective barrel purchasers. In short, California gun owners will find the barrel purchase process to be more cumbersome and expensive com 07/01/2026.
SB-704 Timeline
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Introduced: 02/21/2025
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Signed: 10/10/2025
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Effective: 07/01/2026
To read more about SB-704, you can check out the bill in its entirety here.
Conclusion
Despite multiple victories in various court levels, “freedom weeks”, and things like additions to the roster of approved handguns, California gun owners still face a variety of challenges that seemingly grow each year. Naturally, many gun rights organizations both within California and on the national level have pledged to fight these laws. Additionally, while some entities have ceased sales to the state, there are also many which have pledged to continue to support those in the Golden State.
Of course, the legal landscape regarding firearms, specifically in California, is no stranger to change. As of now, we cannot tell the future of the state or these laws. We may see more court cases come down which can aid California gun owners in one or more of these areas. Additionally, we may see another instance of a judge stepping in and blocking the enforcement of some of these laws as well, as we have seen in the past. With California, only time will tell.
Naturally, nothing stated by True Shot Ammo should constitute infallible legal advice. While we seek to provide the best representation of the facts in this case and others, we also encourage readers to do their own research. This is especially true for those who live in volatile, restrictive states like California. Of course, we also encourage people to not abandon hope and to keep up the good fight with hope that infringements are voided and gun rights are expanded. As with all current and developing topics, we will monitor these laws closely and provide updates as times goes on if necessary.
