California’s recent efforts to regulate Glock pistols have encountered an unexpected development.
Just three months after the state put a halt to new Glock sales, a new model has made its way onto the approved handgun roster.
The Glock 43X CA was added to the California Department of Justice list on September 29, somehow without any official announcement from Glock, which has drawn attention to the state’s handgun list instead.
Assembly Bill 1127, effective July 1, prohibited retailers from selling new Glock pistols due to concerns that they could be easily altered into fully automatic weapons using a small device known as a “Glock switch.”
Interestingly, the new version has now passed the state’s approval procedures.
The 43X CA is essentially a California-specific variant of a compact Glock model that has been available in other states since 2019, but it has never been sold in California until now.
Details about the new pistol have yet to be disclosed by Glock. However, the DOJ listing describes it as a 9mm handgun featuring a 3.41-inch barrel and a 10-round capacity, built with a steel and polymer frame.
It also includes the requisite safety features as mandated by California law. Retailers have noted that the handgun comes with a loaded chamber indicator and a safety mechanism that activates when the magazine is removed.
Pre-orders for the Glock 43X CA began at Turners Outdoorsman as early as October 1, with a listed price of $600, although they caution that prices and specifications might shift as more details emerge. The first shipments are expected by December.
The retailer noted, “This firearm has been added to the California Handgun Roster, and we currently anticipate receiving our first shipments by December. More information and specifications are coming in the next two weeks.”
This new addition coincides with ongoing federal challenges to California’s restrictions on Glock pistols.
The US Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against California regarding AB 1127, asserting that the law mandating the redesign of Glock firearms infringes on the Second Amendment.
