Triangle Tactical Podcast and Blog on Guns, Gear, and Competition Shooting
On Sunday Ben and I talked about how Ruger is ceasing to sell all semi-automatic handguns in California due to their microstamping law (that as far as we can tell still isn’t in effect). The CEO of Ruger had the following to say:
Earlier today news broke that Smith & Wesson will be allowing their M&P handguns to be removed from the California approved handgun list in the next 60 days. This hasn’t been confirmed by S&W yet, but I expect we’ll get that confirmation before too long.
Let’s back up, and fill in the gaps for some of you that may not be totally up on the crazy California gun laws. Basically, semiautomatic handguns in California have to be on a list of approved guns that are said to be “not unsafe”. Many older models that were on the market before this list was in place were allowed to be grandfathered onto the list without many of the safety features that would be required to get a new gun approved for sale in California. (Ex. Gen3 Glocks are approved for sale, but Gen4 Glocks are far too dangerous with their improved grip texture, and dual recoil springs…) These grandfathered pistols are allowed to stay on the approved list, as long as the manufacturer pays a rather nominal fee to the California DOJ.
As we mentioned on the podcast, there was a law passed years back, and signed by the Governator that will require all new pistols that are sold in the state to have microstamping capability. Implementation of this law was put on hold after it was passed, until May of 2013 when the California DOJ announced that they would be implementing the microstamping requirement for new pistols being sold in the state, but the guns currently on the list would still be exempt.
Here’s the thing: Many of Ruger’s pistols, and S&W’s M&P line are, and have been on the approved list in California for some time.
So, what we have here, is within just a couple days, we’ve received official word from the CEO of one company, and a rumor that a second company will be ceasing sales of their pistols on California.
Are they working together? Is this going to be a large scale thing with a bunch of manufacturers getting together to deliver a giant F-U to the CA DOJ?
We don’t know yet, but I have a feeling that we’ll be hearing a lot more about this soon.
If you come across a press release from Ruger, S&W, or anyone else regarding this matter, I’d be eternally greatful if you would email the link to [email protected]
How is this a “fuck you” to the CA DOJ? If anything it hurts people who would actually want to purchase firearms there. The DOJ is probably fine with it.
I was thinking along the line that Law Enforcement agencies may not be able to get these guns anymore if they aren’t on the list, much like the New York boycott that took place last year. No evidence of that, but I suspect that may be what’s taking place.