Firearms

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today unveiled a new informational bulletin about two newly enacted laws related to ghost guns and illegal firearm manufacturing. The bulletin summarizes the provisions of Assembly Bill 1263 (Gipson, 2025) and Senate Bill 704 (Arreguín, 2025) for the purpose of informing relevant stakeholders and members of the public about new and updated standards, responsibilities, and accountability measures that take effect on January 1, 2026. 

"For the California Department of Justice, public safety is priority number one, two, and three. California has made enormous long-term progress on gun safety and has transformed from a state with one of the highest rates of gun violence in the nation to one of the lowest, in part due to our nation-leading gun laws," said Attorney General Bonta. "With these new laws, California demands transparency from sellers of products commonly used to manufacture ghost guns or other illegal weapons and adds new requirements that protect consumers. I urge firearm dealers, manufacturers, consumers, and others — both within California and outside of it — to review today's bulletin and ensure they come into compliance with these new laws coming into effect on January 1st." 

Ghost guns are firearms manufactured without valid serial numbers, typically by individuals who are not licensed to manufacture firearms. Over the past decade, California communities have faced a fast-growing safety threat from the ghost gun industry, which has sold a range of products and services designed to enable unlicensed individuals to assemble or produce firearms without any background check, serial number, or other vital protections. These entities have sought to gain an unfair business advantage over responsible, licensed firearm businesses by selling skip-the-background-check products and services that facilitate the unlawful production of firearms, and the conversion of legal weapons into illegal assault weapons and machine guns. These entities have also induced California consumers to purchase certain firearm-related products while deceptively failing to notify them that it would be a crime to use those products for their intended purpose.  

AB 1263 and SB 704 build upon other nation-leading laws that California has enacted in recent years to address these safety threats and deceptive business practices. They prevent the unlawful sale and delivery of firearm-related products to minors and prohibited purchasers, while also ensuring that California consumers purchasing firearm-related products are properly informed about the laws governing their use. 

The bulletin details the new laws, specifically: 

• New requirements governing the sale of firearm barrels by licensed firearm dealers and other sellers.
• Updated Civil Code definitions for “firearm accessory” and “firearm manufacturing machine” under the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act (FIRA).
• Consumer notice, age verification, and identification requirements for the sale and delivery of “firearm accessories,” “firearm manufacturing machines,” and firearm barrels by licensed firearm dealers and other firearm industry members.
• Updated definition and cause of action for unlawful distribution of digital firearm manufacturing code to unlicensed individuals.
• New criminal offense and civil cause of action for facilitating, or causing another person to engage in, the unlawful manufacture of firearms.
• Prohibition on firearm and ammunition possession/acquisition for 10 years by individuals convicted of additional firearm-related offenses. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to keeping Californians safe and fighting against the threat of ghost guns. In 2024, he issued a groundbreaking report on California’s efforts to address the threat of ghost guns, and this year he sponsored AB 1263 based on recommendations in that report. Last year, he joined a coalition urging the United States Supreme Court to protect communities from ghost guns and announced a settlement in a lawsuit brought by the California Department of Justice, the San Francisco District Attorney, and Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, barring ghost gun companies from manufacturing or selling unserialized ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts in California. Attorney General Bonta also obtained a favorable court decision requiring the federal government to regulate certain AR-type partially complete receivers as firearms under the federal Gun Control Act. 

Please see the California Ghost Gun Laws Reference Guide to learn about laws and policies designed to address the threat of ghost guns in California. 

Urges U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a decision allowing habitual drug users to possess firearms if not impaired at the time of arrest

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in United States v. Hemani, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. In the brief, the attorneys general support the federal government’s argument that a federal law prohibiting unlawful drug users from possessing firearms is constitutional and ask the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate a lower court decision finding the law in question to be in violation of the Second Amendment.  

“Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination. Potentially dangerous drug users should not possess firearms — this is a commonsense notion to prevent people who use drugs from harming themselves, their loved ones, or their communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Both red and blue states alike — recognizing the dangers posed by combining habitual drug use with firearms — have imposed firearm restrictions to prevent gun violence. Today I urge the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court decision, uphold public safety, and keep firearms out of the reach of people who are drug users.”

The underlying case concerns the possession of a firearm by an active marijuana, cocaine, and promethazine user. Under federal law, title 18, section 922(g)(3) of the United States Code specifically bars an individual who is “an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” from possessing any firearm or ammunition, or shipping or transporting the same in interstate commerce. The defendant in this case moved to dismiss the indictment as a violation of his Second Amendment rights, and a lower court determined that federal law only covers habitual drug users who were intoxicated at the time of arrest. 

In the brief, the attorneys general highlight the unique danger that habitual drug users pose in possessing firearms, and how that danger is separate and apart from individuals who possess firearms while intoxicated. In addition to the clear public safety risks presented by possessing firearms while impaired, habitual drug use can cause some individuals to experience chronic psychological disturbances that affect their conduct and decision making, including their ability to safely handle firearms. Further, because much drug use is illicit, habitual drug users frequently interact with the illegal drug trade, which is inherently dangerous and drives criminality. 

In light of these public safety risks, the vast majority of states regulate firearm use by habitual drug users, similarly to federal law. The widespread nature of these laws reflects the wide consensus that habitual drug users are a risk to public safety and should therefore not have access to firearms. California’s own law under California Penal Code § 29800(a)(1) prohibits possession of firearms by any individual “who is addicted to the use of any narcotic drug.”   

In submitting the brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the states of Illinois, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today released a report finding that firearm microstamping technology is technologically viable and has demonstrated the capacity to imprint a unique microscopic array of characters, referred to as a microstamp, on spent cartridge cases discharged by a firearm into which a microstamp-engraved firing pin has been installed. The California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation found that microstamping components installed in semiautomatic pistols can regularly produce microstamps on spent cartridge cases discharged by these firearms, including after sustained or repeat firing. The investigation was led by DOJ’s Bureau of Forensic Services, performed in consultation with relevant legal and subject matter experts, and included input from stakeholders, who were invited to provide written comments relevant to DOJ’s technological viability investigation.

“My office’s investigation into the technological viability of microstamping components has found that this technology is viable,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Microstamping technology could help law enforcement match cartridges found at crime scenes directly to the firearms they came from. Today, my office released a report outlining the findings of our investigation in an effort to provide appropriate transparency as to the basis of our determination.”

Microstamping technology causes a firearm's firing pin to imprint a unique microscopic code onto ammunition cartridge cases when a firearm is fired that can help law enforcement match cartridges found at crime scenes directly to the firearms they came from.  

In 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 452, authored by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), which amended California’s Unsafe Handgun Act and added separate Penal Code provisions that adopted new requirements concerning microstamping components in semiautomatic pistols sold or transferred in the state. California Penal Code section 27532 required DOJ to investigate the technological viability of microstamping components and develop performance standards for entities that produce microstamping components. Beginning January 1st, 2028, state law will mandate that semiautomatic handguns sold by licensed dealers must be verified as microstamping enabled, if DOJ determines that microstamping components are available at commericially reasonable prices or that microstamping-enabled firearms are otherwise readily available for purchase. 

In the report, DOJ outlines the findings of the investigation, including:

• Engraved firing pins have demonstrated the ability to regularly leave legible microstamps on spent cartridge cases.
• In many tested firearms and ammunition types, microstamping components can reliably imprint all data needed to identify the firearm. 
• Even incomplete microstamps can yield useful leads for solving and prosecuting gun crimes.
• Using partial microstamps is equivalent to using partial fingerprints, license plates, or firearm serial numbers as investigative leads. 

This fall, DOJ will work to provide written guidance on performance standards for entities engaged in the business of producing microstamping components. Starting early next year, DOJ will start accepting applications for licensure of entities to engage in the business of producing microstamping components that meet these performance standards. 

A full copy of the report can be found here. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the release of the annual Homicide in California, Crime in California, Use of Force Incident Reporting, Juvenile Justice in California, and Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California statistical reports. The information contained in the reports reflects statistics for 2024 as submitted by California law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice entities. The reports provide policymakers, researchers, law enforcement, and members of the public with vital statewide information on criminal justice statistics in California to support informed policy choices based on data and analysis and help protect the safety and well-being of all Californians. In accordance with Senate Bill 965 (D-Min), the 2024 Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California Report marks the first year specified information about the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) work to inspect firearm dealers and ammunition vendors in California. This information provides a more detailed picture of crime gun recoveries, dealer practices, and examines the link between firearm dealers and inspection trends as it relates to crime guns which are recovered by law enforcement.

“Transparency is key for understanding, preventing, and combating crime in our communities. While crime rates have declined over the past year, public safety in our communities remains priorities one, two, and three. I encourage local partners and law enforcement to review this data and recommit to taking action,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The statistics reported today in the California Department of Justice’s annual crime reports are a critical part of understanding where we are, regulating our response, and ensuring policymakers and law enforcement have the tools they need to make informed decisions that keep millions of Californians safe.”

Each year, DOJ publishes annual reports on various criminal justice statistics in California. While law enforcement agencies across the state are in the process of transitioning to the new data collection system known as the California Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS), the format of the information made available in this year’s reports remains consistent with previous years. The ongoing transition to incident-based reporting will ultimately enable law enforcement agencies to collect more in-depth information about specific incidents than previously available in the legacy system that had been in use for decades. 

Through CIBRS, policymakers, law enforcement, and members of the public will eventually have more detailed information, context, and specificity about crime in the state. Law enforcement agencies across California are currently in the process of transitioning to CIBRS. To date, more than 600 reporting agencies have completed the transition and are in the process of becoming certified by DOJ. DOJ continues to work with agencies across the state during this ongoing transition. 

In the interim, in order to help ensure the annual criminal justice reports remain complete and accurate to the fullest extent possible, DOJ continues to accept data in both the legacy and CIBRS formats. The information made available in this year’s reports is a combination of data collected under both reporting methods. The Attorney General encourages researchers, academics, and all members of the public to analyze the data and use it to help inform public discourse on the state’s criminal justice system. It is important to note that not all agencies were able to submit a full year of data for 2024. Please reference the “Understanding the Data, Characteristics and Known Limitations” section in the Crime in California and Homicide in California 2024 reports for more information.

Key findings from each of the four reports released today and a brief description of their contents are available below:

Homicide in California 2024 provides information about the crime of homicide, including demographic data of victims, persons arrested for homicide, persons sentenced to death, peace officers feloniously killed in the line of duty, and justifiable homicides. Some key findings include: 

• The homicide rate, defined as the number of homicides per 100,000 people in the state, decreased 10.4% in 2024 (from 4.8 per 100,000 in 2023 to 4.3 per 100,000 in 2024).
• Firearms continue to be the most common weapon used in homicides. In 2024, 69.9% of homicides, where the weapon was identified, involved a firearm.
• For homicides where the victim-offender relationship was known and reported to DOJ, 50.5% of victims were killed by a friend or acquaintance (including unmarried intimate partners, gang members, neighbors, etc.), 26.6% were killed by a stranger, and 17.6% were killed by their spouse, parent, or child.
• There were 1,305 arrests for homicide in 2024, a 5% decrease from the 1,374 arrests reported in 2023.

Crime in California 2024 presents statewide statistics for reported crimes, arrests, dispositions of adult felony arrests, adult probation, criminal justice personnel, civilians’ complaints against peace officers, domestic violence-related calls for assistance, anti-reproductive rights crimes, and law enforcement officers killed or assaulted. Some key findings include:

• The violent crime rate — i.e., the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people — decreased 6% from 511 in 2023 to 480.3 in 2024, remaining significantly below California’s historical high of 1,103.9 in 1992.
• The property crime rate decreased 8.4% from 2,272.7 in 2023 to 2,082.7 in 2024.
• The total arrest rate increased 2.4% from 2,611.2 in 2023 to 2,673.8 in 2024.
•  The total number of full-time criminal justice personnel — including law enforcement, prosecutors, investigators, public defenders, and probation officers — increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024. 

Use of Force Incident Reporting 2024 presents a summary overview of use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death, or the discharge of a firearm by a civilian, a peace officer, or both, as defined in California Government Code section 12525.2. Some key findings include:

• In 2024, there were 581 incidents that involved the use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death of a civilian or officer, or the discharge of a firearm.
• In 2024, 592 civilians were involved in incidents that involved the discharge of a firearm or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Of those civilians:

              o   50.2% were Hispanic.

              o   25.8% were white.

              o   19.4% were Black.

• In 2024, 1,215 officers were involved in incidents that involved the discharge of a firearm or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death. Of those officers:

              o   80% were not injured.

              o   20% were injured.

              o   None died.

Juvenile Justice in California 2024 provides insight into the juvenile justice process by reporting the number of arrests, referrals to probation departments, petitions filed, and dispositions for juveniles tried in juvenile and adult courts. Some of the key findings include:

• Of the 44,532 referrals of juveniles to probation, 92.6% were referred by law enforcement.
• The number of juvenile arrests increased by 2.6% from 2023 to 2024.
• Of the 32,874 juvenile arrests:

             o   46.5% were for a felony offense.

             o   51.8% were for a misdemeanor offense.

             o   1.7% were for a status offense, defined as acts that would not be classified as crimes if committed by adults such as curfew violations, truancy, running away, and incorrigibility.

• Of the 23,206 juvenile cases that were formally handled by a juvenile court, 50.8% resulted in juveniles being made wards of the court.
• Of the 89 juvenile cases tried in adult court, 55.1% resulted in a conviction.  

Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California 2024 provides insight into patterns and trends relating to recovered firearms that have been illegally possessed, used in a crime, or suspected to have been used in a crime — also known as “crime guns”— including the leading sources and origins of those firearms. The report also sheds light on firearm dealer and ammunition vendor inspection data and trends, including the rate at which the Bureau of Firearms obtains corrections and the link between firearm dealers providing corrections and complying with state laws and regulations. The 2024 report also includes detailed information on the Roster of Certified Handguns (Handgun Roster) that is maintained by DOJ and lists handguns that are approved for retail sale in the state of California because they meet specified testing and safety requirements. Some key findings include: 

• 139,017 unique crime guns with identifiable serial numbers were recovered by law enforcement agencies in California and entered in the Automated Firearm System (AFS) between 2022 and 2024. This included 46,996 crime guns recovered in 2024.  
• 32,063 crime guns were entered in AFS without any recorded serial number between 2022 and 2024. This included 9,249 unserialized crime guns recovered in 2024.
• In 2024, there was a 11.9% drop in the number of crime guns without serial numbers reported statewide compared to 2023, indicating a 29.5% decline from the 2021 peak of 13,108.
• 376 identified dealers were associated with only one crime gun recovered in 2024 and 81 dealers were associated with roughly half of all crime guns recovered in 2024 that could be traced to a source.
• On average, licensed dealers sold or transferred 22.3 firearms that were later identified as a crime gun between 2022 and 2024.
• The manufacturers associated with the most crime gun records included: Glock; Smith & Wesson; Sturm, Ruger, & Co.; Taurus Forjas; and Springfield.
• Roughly 65% of crime guns recovered in California between 2022 and 2024 had no prior sale recorded in AFS, which may indicate that the guns were purchased illegally or imported into California from another state with fewer gun safety regulations and safeguards.
• From 2020 through 2024, DOJ inspected 736 firearms dealers and recorded 41,602 violations. 85% of those violations have been resolved. 
• The average number of violations per firearm dealer was 51.87 and the median number was 18. 
• In the year prior to the firearm dealer inspections, 612 crime guns were sold by and later traced back to inspected dealers. 
• From 2020 through 2024, DOJ inspected 68 ammunition vendors and recorded a total of 975 violations. 99% of those violations have been resolved.
• Between 2020 and 2024, 215 handguns were added to the Handgun Roster while 87 handguns were removed from it. During the same period, 60 handguns were denied for listing on the Handgun Roster. As of December 31, 2024, there were 930 handguns on the Handgun Roster. 

The Homicide in California report is available here. The Crime in California report is available here. The Use of Force Incident Reporting report is available here. The Juvenile Justice in California report is available here. The Crime Guns, Inspections, and Handguns in California Report is available here. The underlying data associated with the annual reports is available on OpenJustice here.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after an en banc panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed that California’s large-capacity magazine ban does not violate the Second Amendment. Large-capacity magazines are firearm magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, and are frequently used in high-casualty mass shootings because they allow a shooter to fire a large number of rounds without pausing to reload. 

“Today, the court found that California’s ban on large-capacity magazines does not violate the Second Amendment. California’s ban on large-capacity magazines has been a key component in our efforts to fight gun violence and prevent senseless injuries and deaths and the devastation of communities and families that are left behind in the wake of mass shootings,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This commonsense restriction on how many rounds a gunman can fire before they must pause to reload has been identified as a critical intervention to limit a lone shooter’s capacity to turn shootings into mass casualty attacks. Let me be clear, this law saves lives. Today’s ruling is an important win — not only in this case, but in our broader efforts to protect California communities from gun violence.”

A copy of the court order and opinion can be found here and here. 

SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today delivered remarks on California Department of Justice’s preparations to protect California’s values, people, and natural resources ahead of a second Trump Administration. To view a recording of the press conference, please visit here. 

Attorney General Bonta's Remarks as Prepared for Delivery:

As the reality of a second Trump Administration takes hold, I know there is a great deal of fear, sadness, anxiety, and panic. 

I understand. 

I’m here today to reassure you that in California, progress will prevail. 

No matter who is in the White House, no matter who holds control of Congress, in California we will keep moving forward. 

In California, we will choose calm over chaos. 

Fact over fiction.

Belonging over blame.

Unity over division. 

“Us and we” over “I and me.” 

It’s why we’re the 5th largest economy in the world. Not in spite of our commitment to workers, consumers, and the environment, because of it. 

Because we’re the largest and most diverse state in the nation.

Because we believe in the power of inclusivity.

Because we believe in truth over lies. Hope over hate. Light over dark.

Because  we believe in looking forward.

It’s who we are in the Golden State. It’s in our DNA. Nothing and no one can change that. 

As Attorney General, I’ll continue to use the full force of the law and authority of this office to address injustice. 

To stand up for all people, especially those who have long been overlooked and undervalued.

To safeguard reproductive rights. 

And advocate for more housing — especially more affordable housing for lower and middle-income families just trying to get by.

I’ll continue to take on greedy corporate giants and fight for more affordable gas, groceries, and everything in between.  

I’ll continue to defend our world-renowned natural resources and protect them for generations to come. 

Continue to fight for clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.

Continue to crack down on illicit guns on our streets and get fentanyl out of our neighborhoods. 

Continue to fight for workers.

I’ll continue to protect, defend, and serve every single Californian. No matter your politics. 

I’m here to ensure every person — no matter how they look, how much money they make, where they’re from, who they love, how they identify, or how they pray — can pursue their version of the California Dream. 

A fair wage and good benefits.  

A safe and affordable place to live.  

Affordable and accessible health care. 

Good schools to send our kids to. 

Safe neighborhoods to raise our families. 

That’s my promise to you, no matter who is in the White House.  

We’ve been here before.

We lived through Trump 1.0. 

We know what he’s capable of. 

We know what plans he has in store. 

The silver lining is just that: we know. 

We know to take Trump at his word when he says he’ll roll back environmental protections, go after our immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, attack our civil rights, and restrict access to essential reproductive care.

Which means, we won’t be flat-footed come January.

You can be sure that as California Attorney General, if Trump attacks your rights: I’ll be there. 

If Trump comes after your freedoms: I’ll be there. 

If Trump jeopardizes your safety and well-being: I’ll be there.

California DOJ did it before and we’ll do it again.  

During the last Trump Administration, California DOJ fought to stop illegal rollbacks and proposals that would’ve harmed the well-being, health, safety, and civil rights of our people and of people across the country. 

That would have caused irrevocable damage to our environment.

No matter who is in charge of the federal government…

No matter what the incoming Administration has in store… California will remain the steadfast beacon of progress it has long been.  

A constant, unwavering, immoveable force to be reckoned with.  

We’ll continue to be a check on overreach and push back on abuse of power. 

Be the antidote to dangerous, extremist, hateful vitriol.

Be the blueprint of progress for the nation to look to.

Remember: in moments of chaos in D.C., you can always look to California for calm resolve. 

California leaders across the state are ready to stand arm-in-arm. 

Governor Newsom and every single Constitutional Officer;  

Senator Padilla and Senator-elect Schiff;  

Democratic members of Congress; 

Pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the California Legislature; 

Mayors, supervisors, and city councilmembers from San Francisco to San Diego are ready to fight for our California values. 

For our people. For our environment.

For progress and justice.

And as necessary, we’re ready to take on the challenges of a second Trump Administration — together.

While a great deal of change is on the horizon…

California’s path to progress remains full steam ahead.

It may not always be linear. Progress so rarely is. 

It zigs and zags. Takes frustrating detours. Inches forward and backward and forward again. 

The detours and setbacks don’t define our progress.

Our commitment to forward momentum defines our progress. Defines us. 

It’s what we do next that will define us. 

If you’re feeling despondent today, remember that you’re not alone. 

In California, we’re not looking back. We’re not moving back. 

We’re California! We’ll meet any challenges head on and rise to the occasion.

As is so often said, as California goes, so goes the nation.

In the days and months and years to come, all eyes will look west. 

In California, they’ll see: we’re still moving forward.

Thank you. 

Blackhawk Manufacturing, Glockstore, and MDX permanently prohibited from manufacturing or selling ghost guns in or into California

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who were assisted by volunteer counsel from Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Keker, Van Nest & Peters, LLP, today announced that final judgments were entered against Blackhawk Manufacturing (Blackhawk), GS Performance LLC (Glockstore), and MDX Corporation (MDX) as part of a settlement with the companies. Pursuant to the judgments, the companies will be permanently prohibited from manufacturing or selling unserialized ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts in California. Firearm precursor parts are items that may be easily converted into a frame or receiver of a firearm, or that are marketed as such. The companies will also pay civil penalties in the following amounts: $500,000 from Blackhawk, $120,000 from Glockstore, and $55,000 from MDX. The judgments resolve allegations that the companies violated California and federal law in their manufacturing, advertising, and sale of ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts.  

“The manufacture and sale of ghost gun kits has created a largely chaotic industry that is a massive threat to public safety,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “As firearm-related deaths and injuries rise, we must look for upstream interventions that get to the crux of the gun violence epidemic. Getting these manufacturers and retailers to keep untraceable ghost guns off the market is a big win for public health and safety in California.”

“The influx of unlawful and untraceable ghost guns poses a serious public safety issue to residents of San Francisco and the State at large,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “This lawsuit should serve as a reminder that firearms laws must be followed, particularly with respect to the importation and sale of firearm precursor parts into California. I am pleased to have worked with Attorney General Bonta and our pro bono partners to achieve this important result and will not hesitate to take action in the future to enforce state and federal gun laws.” 

“This is huge for California and the national fight against ghost guns.These reckless ghost gun sellers were selling ghost gun kits to California consumers who could not lawfully assemble them. Keeping these untraceable guns out of the state will save lives," said Esther Sanchez-Gomez, Litigation Director, GIFFORDS Law Center. "We were proud to work with Attorney General Bonta, San Francisco District Attorney Jenkins, and Keker, Van Nest & Peters, LLP to secure this critical win for the people of California.”

“We are proud to work alongside Attorney General Bonta, District Attorney Jenkins, and the Giffords Law Center to help end the manufacture, distribution, and sale of ghost gun kits in California,” said Brook Dooley, a partner with the law firm Keker, Van Nest & Peters. “These manufacturers have circumvented California’s gun safety laws for far too long, helping to promote an alarming public safety crisis. The unchecked proliferation of ghost guns will no longer undermine the safety of our communities.”

Ghost gun kits, which commonly contain firearm precursor parts, pose a serious public safety threat. The kits can be used to self-assemble a fully functional weapon in less than 30 minutes and are typically sold without a serial number or background check. As a result, people legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms could obtain ghost guns. The lack of serial numbers on these firearms also render them essentially untraceable, making them attractive to criminals and impeding law enforcement’s ability to prevent and solve crimes. According to data reported by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement in California increased by more than 49,000% from 2015 to 2021. 

The complaint, which was filed in 2021, alleges that the defendants violated California consumer protection laws, and state and federal laws governing firearms. According to the complaint, the defendants violated and undermined the federal Gun Control Act by selling ghost gun kits and firearm precursor parts that are not serialized and by failing to comply with point-of-sale requirements, including background checks and recordkeeping requirements. As alleged in the complaint, the defendants also violated California’s Unsafe Handgun Act by selling kits and firearm precursor parts that produce handguns that lack required safety features, and two of the defendants violated California’s Manufacture of Firearms Law by manufacturing unfinished frames and receivers without serializing them. The complaint further alleges that the defendants misled consumers about serialization, eligibility, and safety requirements for legally assembling a firearm under California law and falsely led them to believe that the firearms built from the defendants’ products were legal.

Under the terms of the judgments, Blackhawk, Glockstore, and MDX are each permanently prohibited from manufacturing or selling any unserialized firearm precursor parts in or into California. They are also prohibited from making any statements that falsely suggest it is legal to purchase, sell, assemble, or own ghost guns or firearm precursor parts in California. The companies must also prevent future violations of California’s firearms laws by training and educating employees and providing notices to customers.

Since the complaint was filed, California’s AB 1621 was passed in 2022, which made the sale of unserialized firearm precursor parts generally illegal in the state and has helped to stem the tide of ghost guns. These judgments hold the defendants accountable for their conduct prior to the enactment of AB 1621; they do so under longstanding federal and state laws governing firearms, unsafe handguns, and fair business practices, and reinforce the applicability of those laws to the ghost gun industry.

Attorney General Bonta is committed to keeping Californians safe and stands with partners throughout the state to continue tackling the issue of gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

• Defending California’s commonsense gun laws, including its assault weapons ban and restrictions on large-capacity magazines.
• Educating the public on gun violence prevention through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, including through data reports issued by the office to provide a robust review of gun violence and gun-related domestic violence data in California and throughout the U.S. and to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence.
• Drafting and implementing regulations defining firearm precursor parts and guiding the public on firearm precursor part identification.
• Advocating for gun laws including by sponsoring Assembly Bill 1594 to increase accountability for the firearm industry and supporting The Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act (AB 28) to make long-term investments in community-based gun violence prevention programs, school mental health, gun crime investigations, and victim services.
• Working to strengthen federal laws to protect the public from ghost guns.
• Seizing guns from prohibited persons in the  Armed and Prohibited Persons System, and through multiagency sweeps in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns, and collaborating with local law enforcement partners.
• Calling for an investigation into an ammunition plant that sells military grade ammunition to the public that is subsidized by the American taxpayer. 

A copy of the complaint is available here. A copy of the judgment as to Blackhawk is available here, and a copy of the judgment as to Glockstore and MDX can be found here.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, joined an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in support of Colorado’s law requiring a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases. Attorney General Bonta joined the brief in Rocky Mountain Gun Owners v. Polis after the district court denied a preliminary injunction that would have halted Colorado's enforcement of the law. States across the nation—including California—protect their citizens through the application of similar waiting period laws because such laws have been proven to promote public safety and curb gun violence. 

“Reasonable waiting period laws for firearm purchases allow states to implement background checks and create a buffer between gun purchases and gun acquisition, which have been proven to help prevent senseless and impulsive acts of gun violence in our communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Gun violence is an urgent public health issue—we must continue defending upstream interventions that work; and waiting periods simply work.”

In today’s brief, the states argue that Colorado's waiting period law is consistent with the long-standing practice of regulating gun safety and shielding communities from gun violence by assuring that only law-abiding and responsible persons acquire guns. Colorado’s waiting period resembles measures taken by other states that explicitly impose waiting periods or the laws of states that functionally impose waiting periods through their licensing and background check schemes. The immediate purchase and acquisition of a gun allows people to act on temporary emotions and impulses, which can increase the risk of both gun suicide and gun homicide. Research has repeatedly shown waiting period laws that delay the purchase of firearms by a few days can reduce gun homicides by approximately 17%, and suicide rates by 7- 11%.  

Attorney General Bonta stands with partners throughout the state to continue tackling the issue of gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

• Defending California’s commonsense gun laws, including its assault weapons ban and restrictions on large-capacity magazines.
• Educating the public on gun violence prevention through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, including through the first-ever data report issued by the office to provide a robust review of gun violence data in California and throughout the U.S. and to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence.
• Advocating for gun laws including by sponsoring Assembly Bill 1594 to increase accountability for the firearm industry, working to strengthen federal laws to protect the public from ghost guns, and successfully defending California’s laws to prevent gun violence.
• Seizing guns from prohibited persons in the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, and through multiagency sweeps in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns, and collaborating with local law enforcement partners.
• Ending the sale of illegal firearms through litigation against ghost gun retailers, and by putting a stop to the sale of illegal assault weapons in Orange County  

In filing the brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Northern Mariana Islands.

A copy of the brief can be found here. 

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured a court decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit allowing the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue sharing data with qualified gun violence researchers to better direct strategies to prevent gun violence. The decision in Doe v. Bonta allows DOJ to continue to provide the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center and other qualified gun violence researchers with data under Assembly Bill 173 (AB 173), which is necessary to conduct research evaluating the leading causes and impacts of gun violence as well as effective responses. 

“Enabling rigorous empirical research is crucial as we strive to combat the scourge of gun violence within our state,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Ninth Circuit’s decision marks a significant victory in our endeavor to curb gun violence in California. The information shared under AB 173 is pivotal: It enables groundbreaking research that supports informed policymaking aimed at reducing and preventing firearm violence and saving lives.”

Since the 1950s, California law has required DOJ to maintain records of handgun sales in California, and recently added sales of long guns and ammunition. This data provides a unique opportunity for gun violence research not available anywhere else. Since at least 1989, researchers at the University of California, Davis have been utilizing that data in studies aimed at understanding and preventing various forms of firearm violence. In 2016, the Legislature directed the Regents of the University of California to establish a Firearm Violence Research Center with the goals of producing interdisciplinary research addressing the nature and consequences of firearm violence, and working with policymakers to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative firearm violence prevention policies and programs. 

To aid in those goals, the Legislature mandated through AB 173 that DOJ provide this firearms data to the Firearm Violence Research Center and, at the Attorney General’s discretion, to other qualified researchers. Five registered California gun owners challenged the legislation and claimed it violated their Second Amendment rights and their right to informational privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment, among other claims. On Wednesday, May 8, the Ninth Circuit issued a unanimous published decision affirming the complete dismissal of this challenge to the law.

A copy of the court’s decision can be found here.

LOS ANGELES – As part of a statewide effort to address gun violence, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today was joined by local leaders for a roundtable discussion. The roundtable in Los Angeles is the second in a series of meetings led by Attorney General Bonta across the state to bring together leaders of community-based organizations to discuss best practices in addressing gun violence. The primary objective of the roundtables is to formulate effective approaches for addressing gun violence in communities, foster knowledge about accessible resources for the public, and enhance partnerships statewide to more effectively prevent shootings and interrupt cycles of trauma and violence in California. 

“Gun violence is an epidemic that pervades our society,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Just this year alone, we’ve already had 116 mass shootings and we’re only midway through April. This roundtable discussion is one of the many ways we are fighting this disease. Preventing gun violence must begin in our communities by strengthening relationships and fostering an environment of support and collaboration. I’m proud to stand with our local partners to identify best practices, foster community involvement, and work toward community-driven solutions to eliminate gun violence and protect survivors. As California Attorney General, I am doubling down on California’s gun safety efforts: I am defending our commonsense gun safety laws in court, cracking down on enforcing those laws, and working in collaboration with local community violence intervention and prevention experts to disrupt cycles of gun violence.” 

As we celebrate a downward trend in violence, we must remember that any lives lost by gun violence is too many—we aim for zero: zero homicides and zero gunshots,” said Ben “Taco” Owens of Detours Mentoring Group. “Looking forward, we must collectively continue advocating for more investment in community violence intervention.”

"As a survivor and long-time activist in this movement, I have learned that so many instances of gun violence are preventable - especially when it comes to gun suicides and unintentional shootings,” said Mia Livas Porter of Moms Demand Action. “Gun violence is a public health epidemic. And it is going to take every single one of us to address this uniquely American crisis - from parents asking about safe gun storage on playdates to our electeds and government agencies at every level using their platform to encourage gun safety. “

“The first of all civil rights is safety. And the first of all freedoms is freedom from violence,” said Connie Rice, Member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and Co-crafter of LA’s Pioneering Violence Reduction Strategy. “The violence and gun reduction pioneers joining Attorney General Bonta today know that safety in high violence neighborhoods requires far more than handcuffs—it requires concerted community-government partnership and the resources to carry out all-hands-on- deck violence reduction strategies that lead to safer neighborhoods.” 

As part of the effort to advance justice for all Californians, California Attorney General Rob Bonta took quick action upon entering office to establish the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) within the California Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2021. CARE works directly with community organizations, state and local elected officials, and members of the public to help ensure the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the state’s work. Specifically, CARE focuses on cultivating relationships with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities in line with DOJ’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work on behalf of the people of California, including in the fight for environmental, economic, and social justice.

In September of 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the launch of the CA DOJ’s first-in-the-nation Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), a unit dedicated to developing strategies and working with stakeholders statewide to address the gun violence epidemic. This innovative new office — the first Office of Gun Violence Prevention under the leadership of a state attorney general — provides centralized support from the DOJ for partners to implement strategic and innovative programs to reduce gun violence.  The OGVP’s mission is to reduce and prevent gun violence, firearm injury, and related trauma. The OGVP supports DOJ’s ongoing gun violence reduction efforts led by the Bureau of Firearms and DOJ's litigation sections — including the Department’s seizure of firearms from dangerous individuals using the  Armed and Prohibited Persons System, (APPS), prosecution of firearms trafficking cases, and defense of California’s commonsense gun laws. The OGVP will examine a broad range of factors — from firearm availability to effective resources for crisis prevention — to reduce the harm caused by firearms and make Californians healthier and safer. The OGVP aims to reduce gun violence by promoting research and data collection, increasing awareness about effective legal and policy strategies, and collaborating with federal, state, and local partners.

In August 2023, the office released its first data report to provide a robust review of gun violence data in California and throughout the U.S. to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence. The report highlighted California’s successes in preventing gun violence, and it shined a light on successful strategies and further areas for improvements. For example, over the last 30 years, California has reduced its gun violence rate compared to the rest of the United States; once 50% above average, California’s firearm homicide rate is now 33% below the rest of the United States. Additionally, if the firearm mortality rate in the rest of the United States had matched California’s between 2013-2022, there would have been nearly 140,000 fewer firearm-related deaths nationwide in that decade alone. The report also emphasized the importance of community-based efforts to protect survivors and interrupt cycles of violence: people who had survived a gun assault injury in California were over 60 times more likely to be killed in another shooting compared to the statewide average. 

In November 2023, the office released its second data report that provided an in-depth look at the ties between domestic violence and firearms. The report examined data illustrating the impact of firearms-related domestic violence, including both family and intimate partner-related violence with firearms. The report documented California’s long-term progress in reducing domestic violence involving firearms and recent challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the report highlighted California’s efforts to empower and protect survivors by providing a range of support services, offering crisis intervention and safety planning options, providing for Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs), and enforcing laws to protect against gun violence.

Attorney General Bonta stands with partners throughout the state to continue tackling the issue of gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

• Defending California’s commonsense gun laws, including its assault weapons ban and restrictions on large-capacity magazines.
• Educating the public on gun violence prevention through the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, including through data reports issued by the office to provide a robust review of gun violence and gun-related domestic violence data in California and throughout the U.S. and to help guide policy and strategy discussions related to reducing gun violence.
•  Advocating for gun laws including by sponsoring Assembly Bill 1594 to increase accountability for the firearm industry and supporting The Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act (AB 28) to make long-term investments in community-based gun violence prevention programs, school mental health, gun crime investigations, and victim services.
• Working to strengthen federal laws to protect the public from ghost guns.
• Seizing guns from prohibited persons in the  Armed and Prohibited Persons System,  and through multiagency sweeps in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns, and collaborating with local law enforcement partners.
• Ending the sale of illegal firearms through litigation against ghost gun retailers, and by putting a stop to the sale of illegal assault weapons in Orange County.
• Calling for an investigation into an ammunition plant that sells military grade ammunition to the public that is subsidized by the American taxpayer.