Trump DOJ – The Trump administration’s Department of Justice warned California it may sue over Assembly Bill 1127, a new law restricting sales of certain semiautomatic handguns. The DOJ says the measure violates Second Amendment rights and set conditions for pre-suit talk
A July 1 deadline is looming in California’s gun debate, and the federal government is putting pressure on lawmakers before the new restrictions even take effect.
On June 24, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice sent an open letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Attorney General Rob Bonta warning it may file a lawsuit over a new gun sale restriction law it calls an unconstitutional “Glock Ban.” In the letter. the DOJ’s Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet K. Dhillon argued that the measure would limit the ability of “law-abiding citizens” to buy “legal firearms. ” warning that the state could face legal action if it does not respond by June 30.
The dispute centers on Assembly Bill 1127, which is set to go into effect on July 1. The law adds strict regulations that would prohibit licensed firearms dealers from selling. exchanging. or delivering any semiautomatic handgun with a cruciform trigger—an arrangement the DOJ says can be “easily modified into a ‘machinegun-convertible pistol.’”.
Dhillon’s letter frames the matter as a direct challenge to constitutional rights. “The Second Amendment guarantees the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense,” Dhillon wrote. Because handguns are described as the “most popular weapon chosen by American for self-defense. ” she said. “a prohibition of their use is invalid.” She also objected to the idea that gun owners should have to accept older models to keep their firearms compliant.
California’s law targets conversion devices tied to “Glock switches”
California’s new restrictions are tied to how some semiautomatic handguns can be turned into fully automatic weapons. The law and related policy efforts focus on whether certain firearms can be modified with a machine gun conversion device. also known as a “Glock Switch.” With such an accessory installed. certain semiautomatic handguns can fire without repeatedly pulling the trigger.
The use of machine gun conversion devices is illegal under the federal National Firearms Act. A count by Everytown for Gun Safety—a nonprofit gun control organization—states that at least 28 states. including California and Indiana. have already prohibited the ownership and use of Glock switches through specific laws.
Assembly Bill 1127 does not reference Glock or any other gun maker by name, but it restricts the new sale of semiautomatic handguns that could be easily modified into a “machinegun-convertible pistol.”
The bill was authored by Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco). After the legislation was signed into law in 2025. a Gabriel office press release said it would “hold the firearm industry accountable” for a “deadly lack of action” to address the proliferation of converted automatic weapons.
Stefani, in remarks after the bill passed, said the law would close a loophole. “No gun sold in California should be just a screwdriver away from becoming a machine gun,” she said. “With Governor Newsom’s signature on AB 1127. we are closing a deadly loophole that has fueled gun violence in our communities. California is sending a clear message: we will always put the safety of our families ahead of the gun industry’s bottom line.”.
What changes in California—and who would face penalties
The law’s impact is already visible in California’s handgun roster. Over 30 Glock models developed by Glock Inc. have been removed from California’s “Handguns Certified for Sale” list.
In addition, the state has reported that over 100 gun models were removed from the roster since the start of 2026. Even with those removals. the number of available handguns remains significant: California says there are still over 900 handguns available for purchase within the state. according to its Handgun Roster.
Supporters say the measure is aimed at new sales and dealer compliance. The law will not affect current gun owners, and it does not restrict the transfer or sales of the firearm between private individuals.
Dealers, however, face potential enforcement consequences. If a licensed firearms dealer is caught violating the law, the first offense could result in a fine. A subsequent offense could lead to the dealer’s license being suspended or revoked. For a third violation, the dealer could face a misdemeanor charge and license revocation.
Dhillon’s conditions for pre-suit negotiations
Dhillon’s open letter also lays out what the Department of Justice wants from California before it goes to court. She said the Justice Department is “willing to enter pre-suit negotiation” if the state agrees to three actions.
The DOJ’s requested steps are: immediately cease enforcement of the laws identified in the letter; acknowledge the unconstitutionality of these laws; and agree to enter into a court-enforceable consent decree permanently enjoining the state from violating citizens’ constitutional rights through these and any similar laws.
Dhillon also warned of timing. If California does not respond to the department’s demands by June 30, the DOJ says it might file a complaint.
Dhillon argues the roster and AB 1127 violate constitutional rights
Dhillon’s rebuttal is not limited to the new restrictions themselves. In the open letter. she argued that both Assembly Bill 1127 and California’s handgun roster violate Californians’ Second Amendment rights by hindering people’s ability to obtain these firearms and by making it a crime to acquire firearms from firearm dealers.
Gabriel’s office. for its part. describes the legislation as a way to push manufacturers toward preventing easy conversion into fully automatic weapons. “AB 1127 will encourage gun manufacturers to finally address this issue and prevent their guns from being easily converted into deadly automatic weapons by prohibiting the sale of any semi-automatic handgun in California that is easily convertible into a fully automatic machine gun. ” the office said in its post-signature statement.
As July 1 approaches, the confrontation is sharpening into a legal showdown over how far states can go to restrict specific firearm configurations—and whether federal officials will force the matter into court before California can start enforcing the new rules.
Department of Justice Harmeet K. Dhillon California Assembly Bill 1127 Glock Ban machine gun conversion device Glock switch firearms dealers Second Amendment handgun roster AB 1127