Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarthy, Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Catherine Stefani Join Gun Violence Survivors to Urge Action on DIY Machine Guns 

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 statement after today’s press conference at the California State Capitol in support of AB 1127. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarthy, Asms. Jesse Gabriel and Catherine Stefani joined Moms Demand Action volunteers to call for the passage of AB 1127. The legislation would prohibit gun dealers from selling firearms that can be easily converted into fully automatic weapons through the simple installation of a Glock switch, which enables the pistols to fire at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute. 

“We’ve mourned too many people taken by gun violence and we’ve mourned far too many taken by DIY machine guns that terrorize our communities,” said Deborah Grimes, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action and a gun violence survivor whose son Najee was shot and killed with a DIY machine gun pistol. “This is about saving lives. We can’t wait until it’s too late to ask what we should have done — we know the answer today: pass AB 1127. We thank Mayor McCarthy and Assemblymembers Gabriel and Stefani for their tireless efforts to save lives.” 

“As parents and lawmakers, we refuse to stand idly by while our schools and communities are being threatened by illegal machine guns,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). “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. I am grateful to Assemblymember Stefani, Mayor McCarty, Moms Demand Action, and the incredible survivors and advocates who are the heart and soul of this movement.” 

“Let’s call this what it is: reckless greed from gun manufacturers who know their products can be turned into illegal machine guns. AB 1127 says enough is enough. If these companies won’t redesign their weapons to protect our communities, California will hold them accountable. I’m proud to stand with Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to shut this deadly loophole down once and for all,” said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco).

“115 bullets in 50 seconds. That’s what happened three years ago when a Glock pistol converted into a DIY machine gun was involved in a gun battle right here in Sacramento, resulting in six deaths and twelve injuries. We must hold gun manufacturers accountable for preventing their guns from being easily converted into lethal weapons. Let’s take this next step toward a safer California,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty. 

AB 1127 has already passed the California Assembly and is now in the California Senate’s Appropriations Committee suspense file. Since its introduction by gun sense champion Jesse Gabriel, the bill has seen statewide support from lawmakers and national and state organizations, including former Moms Demand Action volunteer and now Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, as well as former Los Angeles City Attorney and Assemblymember Mike Feuer who wrote an op-ed published by Sacramento Bee urging the passage of AB 1127. 

Last month, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution endorsing the language of AB 1127 and pushing Sacramento leaders to pass the life-saving legislation into law. 

More on AB 1127: 

Machine guns are prohibited under California state law. But because of the explosion of “glock switches” available through online sellers or easy to print on 3D printers, it is easier than ever to turn certain types of convertible pistols into machine guns with very little effort. AB 1127 stops the retail sale of weapons that can be easily modified into DIY machine guns in an effort to prevent these deadly weapons from continuing to flood our streets. 

The bill will have an important impact on public safety but only a small impact on how many types of handguns 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. The bill exempts future sales to law enforcement and the military, and would not impact anyone who currently possesses these guns. 

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 Students Demand Action about AB 1127, please reach out to [email protected].