Attorney General Bonta: California’s Unsafe Handgun Act Saves Lives

Law remains in effect as California has 14 days to appeal decision 

SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted a preliminary injunction motion in Boland v. Bonta, a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California’s Unsafe Handgun Act:

“The fact of the matter is, California’s gun safety laws save lives, and California’s Unsafe Handgun Act is no exception,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We will continue to lead efforts to advance and defend California’s gun safety laws. As we move forward to determine next steps in this case, Californians should know that this injunction has not gone into effect and that California’s important gun safety requirements related to the Unsafe Handgun Act remain in effect."

Today’s decision is stayed for 14 days to allow the State to file an appeal and seek a further stay from the court of appeals, and the chamber load indicator, magazine disconnect, and microstamping requirements for new semiautomatic pistols remain in effect until at least that time. The district court's decision also does not disturb the State's requirement that to be available for retail sale, a semiautomatic pistol must appear on the Roster of Certified Handguns after passing other safety requirements, such as drop safety and firing tests conducted by a certified independent laboratory.