California's Glock Ban Faces Snag as New Model Appears on Approved Roster

A Glock model, recently banned in California, has reappeared on the state's approved handgun roster, creating an unexpected development just three months after lawmakers prohibited sales of new Glock pistols. The Glock 43X CA was added to the California Department of Justice roster on September 29 without a public announcement from the manufacturer.

This addition comes after Assembly Bill 1127 took effect on July 1, barring retailers from selling new Glock pistols. State authorities had targeted Glock handguns and similar designs, citing concerns that they could be readily converted into fully automatic weapons with a device known as a "Glock switch."

The Glock 43X CA is a California-specific version of a compact Glock design that has been available in other states since 2019 but had not previously been sold in California.

Glock has not publicly detailed the new pistol. According to the DOJ listing, it is a 9mm handgun featuring a 3.41-inch barrel, a 10-round capacity, and a steel-and-polymer frame. The firearm includes a loaded chamber indicator and a mechanism that engages a safety when the magazine is removed, adhering to California's safety requirements.

Retailers like Turners Outdoorsman began accepting pre-orders for the model in early October, listing it for $600 and noting that first shipments were anticipated by December. The retailer stated that more information and specifications were expected within two weeks.

The emergence of the new Glock model occurs as California's restrictions on the firearms face a legal challenge. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California, asserting that Assembly Bill 1127, which mandates Glock redesigns, infringes upon Second Amendment rights.