Open AB-1263 - Online sale ban - I changed the title because it was too clickbaity.

[Sparrow Dynamics]

And the term "firearm component" includes things like metric M3 screws (used in my SIG), billets of aluminum (used in some of my AR lowers), and that infamous 1/4-28 screw that causes people to strip the pistol grip thread on their lowers, because they don't know difference between 1/4-20 and 1/4-28. Will this law ban all M3 and 1/4-28 screws (ban meaning: require an FFL to transfer them)? That would be funny. Imagine the checkout line at Home Depot if this were to happen.

So we need a lot of clarification before we go off half ed (pun!). But for YouTube click baiting, rage and half ed are good for revenue.

Just an FYI: The term "firearm component" is used in the definition “firearm-related product” and that is only used to define who a "firearm industry member" is. In other words, "firearm component" is not part of the regulated parts. BUT...

3273.50. (c) “Firearm accessory” means an attachment or device designed or adapted to be inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm that is designed, intended, or functions to increase a firearm’s rate of fire or to increase the speed at which a person may reload a firearm or replace the magazine, or any other attachment or device described in subdivision (a) of Section 30515 of the Penal Code that may render a firearm an assault weapon when inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm. The term firearm accessory also includes any other device, tool, kit, part, or parts set that is clearly designed and intended for use in manufacturing firearms.

This definition seems to be firstly focused on things like binary or crank triggers, but could apply to just nicer triggers. Then it seems to focus on things like fixed mag devices that help a person crack the upper receiver faster like the AR Maglock / King Pin combo or the Juggernaut Hellfighter kit for AR rifles and pistols. Then it mentions the devices of Section 30515 which are the “features” that make up an “AW” in California… things like barrel shrouds (handguards), pistol grips, thumbhole stocks, adjustable stocks, folding stocks, flash hiders, forward pistol grips, etc.. Lastly it throws a large net to capture just about everything else by adding "includes any other device, tool, kit, part, or parts set that is clearly designed and intended for use in manufacturing firearms". This is so vague and we don’t know if springs, detents, lower parts kits, muzzle brakes, armorers wrenches, special vise blocks, reaction rods, etc. are included or not in that last sentence.

Once we get clarity, this will probably include a lot of parts we commonly buy online. The new "reasonable controls" on sellers, especially the age and ID verification and shipping, will likely cause many online retailers to stop selling to California.

 

[star.3d]

"firearm industry member"

You're correct, the definition of "firearm industry member" is not new to AB1263 - this was already on the books and it means anyone importing/selling/transferring guns, parts, or ammo. The key aspect of this bill is broadening the definition of an "accessory" under §3273.50 and placing new restrictions on how those may be sold/transferred in(to) the state under §3273.51. Yes, it will cause online retailers to pull out of California - that's the goal of this bill.

(c) “Firearm accessory” means an attachment or device designed or adapted to be inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm that is designed, intended, or functions to alter or enhance the firing capabilities of a firearm, the lethality of the firearm, or a shooter’s ability to hold and use a firearm. increase a firearm’s rate of fire or to increase the speed at which a person may reload a firearm or replace the magazine, or any other attachment or device described in subdivision (a) of Section 30515 of the Penal Code that may render a firearm an assault weapon when inserted into, affixed onto, or used in conjunction with a firearm. The term firearm accessory also includes any other device, tool, kit, part, or parts set that is clearly designed and intended for use in manufacturing firearms.

This is gonna sound crazy.... but "firearm" has a different meaning in different laws. In this context, it means both complete firearms as we know them and firearms as federally defined (i.e. serialized receiver). So lower parts kits, detents, etc could be covered, especially if sold as a "build kit".

 

[treelogger]

This is so vague and we don’t know if springs, detents, lower parts kits, muzzle brakes, armorers wrenches, special vise blocks, reaction rods, etc. are included or not in that last sentence.

Exactly, it's the vagueness that gets me. Example: The common 1/4-28 Allen head screw (or bolt) that is used to attach an AR pistol grip to the lower. You can buy it from pretty much any place that sells gun parts, like local gun stores, Brownells, specialized online dealers for the AR market.

Now, the vast majority of all screws made in the world do NOT go into firearms. So saying "screws are firearm parts in the sense of this law" would be a massive overgeneralization, which no court in the land would accept. But if we look at blackened 1/4-28x7/8 Allens, those are quite specialized, and I would guess that most of the production goes into ARs. There are similar examples of unusual threads that only exist in one application.

Example from a different world: I was talking to a friend who is a musical instrument repair guy, and he needed a very small metric screw to repair the valve on a French horn, a M2.6 round head brass screw. Normal industrial production in metric only uses M2, M2.5 and M3. Because I know a little bit about hardware and mechanical engineering, I made a few phone calls: Sorry, screws this size have not been made in many decades; before WW2, screw sizes were less standardized, and M2.3 and M2.6 were occasionally seen. Another very experienced hardware company (Olander) asked me immediately: You're trying to fix a musical instrument? We haven't seen any screws that size ever, and the only people who ask about it are brass instrument repair shops. But it turns out that those screws still DO exist, and I managed to find some in a lab that dealt with research instrumentation, and had some left from having inherited a few pre-WW2 scientific instruments. I took a handful and gave it to my music repair friend.

So if you ask "are M2.6 brass screws musical instrument parts in the sense of this law", the answer would be: Yes. So what happens is that there is a slippery slope here: First, the only parts clearly controlled by this law are things that are ONLY used in firearms. Then the ones that are MOSTLY used. Then the ones that are SOMETIMES used. If you take this vague law too literally, very soon Home Depot and McMaster have to do all their sales through an FFL, which is insane.

 

[Sparrow Dynamics]

You're correct, the definition of "firearm industry member" is not new to AB1263 - this was already on the books and it means anyone importing/selling/transferring guns, parts, or ammo. The key aspect of this bill is broadening the definition of an "accessory" under §3273.50 and placing new restrictions on how those may be sold/transferred in(to) the state under §3273.51. Yes, it will cause online retailers to pull out of California - that's the goal of this bill.

This is gonna sound crazy.... but "firearm" has a different meaning in different laws. In this context, it means both complete firearms as we know them and firearms as federally defined (i.e. serialized receiver). So lower parts kits, detents, etc could be covered, especially if sold as a "build kit".

Totally agree with you, but to respectfully clarify, my point was that the terms "firearm components" or "firearm related parts" are not regulated in this bill. These terms were only used to define who a "firearm industry member" is.

In an earlier post, you wrote "AB1263 defines three (3) newly regulated components", then you listed them, and "firearm-related product" was one of them. But, it isn't one of the things the bill regulates. They only used that term to define another term. I believe "firearm-related product" is much much broader according to their definition than "firearm accessories". Either way it is still awful and makes me sick.

Most of us here can agree that this new law terribly written and will be very destructive to online sales. I've been digging into it heavily to try to figure out how our business will deal with it. It's not good.

 

[Sparrow Dynamics]

So no more Cajun Gun Works Pro packages? No more Apex triggers for Glocks ? I wanted to buy a complete AR upper before the July 1 ban. Is that moot come Jan 1? Definitely getting a Geiselle trigger during the Xmas sale. I’m spending a 3 year gun budget in one year. I have double spare parts of all CZ75 component. Do I need to stock up on more springs, barrel bushings etc?

The bill didn't make these parts illegal to buy. It means there are extra hoops to jump through to get them. Many online dealers may choose to not implement the "hoops" and just stop selling to CA, but some will. You can also go to your local gun shop... they will still have to make you jump through the hoops, but it will be easier in person. Don't get me wrong, the law is awful, but you can still get parts. But, it would be a good idea to buy some parts now that you think will either be too expensive or less common to get at your local store.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

The bill didn't make these parts illegal to buy. It means there are extra hoops to jump through to get them. Many online dealers may choose to not implement the "hoops" and just stop selling to CA, but some will. You can also go to your local gun shop... they will still have to make you jump through the hoops, but it will be easier in person. Don't get me wrong, the law is awful, but you can still get parts. But, it would be a good idea to buy some parts now that you think will either be too expensive or less common to get at your local store.

LOL local gun shop, I wish they actually stocked anything. Maybe they will now but it essentially means 20% over retail for everything that ends up being regulated as that's what every local shop charges for everything they have, it's criminal.

 

[Sparrow Dynamics]

LOL local gun shop, I wish they actually stocked anything. Maybe they will now but it essentially means 20% over retail for everything that ends up being regulated as that's what every local shop charges for everything they have, it's criminal.

I hear ya. Definitely will be worse selection, much higher prices, and terrible customer service.

This bill flew under the radar too. Many gun owner have no clue about what laws get past or what's about to hit them.

 

[star.3d]

One thing that's worth keeping in mind is that some online retailers are already complying with ID requirements for ammo sales to states like IL, CT and NJ, including restricting shipping to the address on your ID. So there's some precedent... and some already have upload fields for IDs/permits.

 

[Sloat]

One thing that's worth keeping in mind is that some online retailers are already complying with ID requirements for states like IL, CT and NJ, including restricting shipping to the address on your ID. So there's precedent... and some already have upload fields for IDs/permits.

Yeah, agree with this too. Realistically, this might just be a slight increase to the cost of doing business, and while some might choose to exit, many will still step in to fill the gap. As more and more states introduce more stringent requirements, I would imagine that it'll just push retailers to build in the cost of ID verification etc. into their platforms as a standard measure. There's several good ammo vendors that ship to CA FFL03s, and they're basically doing this already.

 

[treelogger]

LOL local gun shop, I wish they actually stocked anything.

The business model of the local gun shop may have to change, if this law stands (which is dubious, it's probably too vague for most judges, depending on the regulation). The gun shop might become just an ordering and delivery hub: You walk in, ask for a component, they order it for, you come back a week later, and pick it up, paying 20% more or an extra $20 or whatever they feel like.

Another crazy but realistic option: A local gun store might get into the package delivery business: Online sellers send their packages there, and they then drive around (just like Amazon does) with their own delivery vehicle and drop off packages. We already have small local delivery services (there is a California-specific one Amazon used to contract with a decade ago, and they were AWFUL), so that business model could work too.

Either is very inconvenient and costly for gun people. Which is likely the real purpose of the bill.

 

[Sloat]

The business model of the local gun shop may have to change, if this law stands (which is dubious, it's probably too vague for most judges, depending on the regulation). The gun shop might become just an ordering and delivery hub: You walk in, ask for a component, they order it for, you come back a week later, and pick it up, paying 20% more or an extra $20 or whatever they feel like.

Another crazy but realistic option: A local gun store might get into the package delivery business: Online sellers send their packages there, and they then drive around (just like Amazon does) with their own delivery vehicle and drop off packages. We already have small local delivery services (there is a California-specific one Amazon used to contract with a decade ago, and they were AWFUL), so that business model could work too.

Either is very inconvenient and costly for gun people. Which is likely the real purpose of the bill.

I think the FFLs that are more "with it" are already doing this. Getting on-roster pistols online with low transfer fees, digital inventory, SSE stuff, etc. It might just slightly expand to components like barrels. It'll definitely increase purchase friction, which I'm sure is by design.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

The business model of the local gun shop may have to change, if this law stands (which is dubious, it's probably too vague for most judges, depending on the regulation). The gun shop might become just an ordering and delivery hub: You walk in, ask for a component, they order it for, you come back a week later, and pick it up, paying 20% more or an extra $20 or whatever they feel like.

Another crazy but realistic option: A local gun store might get into the package delivery business: Online sellers send their packages there, and they then drive around (just like Amazon does) with their own delivery vehicle and drop off packages. We already have small local delivery services (there is a California-specific one Amazon used to contract with a decade ago, and they were AWFUL), so that business model could work too.

Either is very inconvenient and costly for gun people. Which is likely the real purpose of the bill.

I use a home FFL near me that charges 10 bucks to do an ammo transfer, hopefully doing barrels is that easy. The stores around here though won't even let you order ammo and easily double the price you pay online, I saw 700 bucks for 1000 pmc 223 last week. You can get it through target sports for 375. I don't think the brick and mortar stores care if we can get parts or not they can just keep selling ammo at a premium and never have sales and people still buy stuff.

 

[treelogger]

I think the FFLs that are more "with it" are already doing this.

The stores around here though won't even let you order ammo and easily double the price you pay online, ...

If a brick and mortar store can survive selling overpriced stuff: more power to them. The ones who won't survive: good riddance.

And clearly some transfer-only (kitchen table) FFLs are very much with it, and I also rely on their services. Would be nice if all gun stores worked that well. I wouldn't mind walking into a gun store and being told: "You need something we don't have in stock? We'll be happy to order it for you, or you just drop ship it here and come pick it up. That will be $20. You need inexpensive ammo? We recommend Target Sports, plus $20. You need a box of PMC 223 right now? Then you'll have to pay list price.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

If a brick and mortar store can survive selling overpriced stuff: more power to them. The ones who won't survive: good riddance.

And clearly some transfer-only (kitchen table) FFLs are very much with it, and I also rely on their services. Would be nice if all gun stores worked that well. I wouldn't mind walking into a gun store and being told: "You need something we don't have in stock? We'll be happy to order it for you, or you just drop ship it here and come pick it up. That will be $20. You need inexpensive ammo? We recommend Target Sports, plus $20. You need a box of PMC 223 right now? Then you'll have to pay list price.

instead it's "oh I know we have nothing in stock that you would want and we never will but we charge $150 to mail order transfer a lower". The home FFL though is 60 and you can do multiples for free and the guy isn't a douche.

 

[skb720]

Received an email from Evolution Gun Works (EGW) that they no longer ship Anything to California private addresses, must be a valid FFL address. Are they being paranoid? So even scope mounts, pic rails, screws are shipping only to FFL?

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Received an email from Evolution Gun Works (EGW) that they no longer ship Anything to California private addresses, must be a valid FFL address. Are they being paranoid? So even scope mounts, pic rails, screws are shipping only to FFL?

completely, they haven't even written the regulations yet and specified what it covers. And, there's nothing in it that said accessories need to go through FFL, just that they need to do an ID check for "reasonable controls". Also, it hasn't even started yet.

 

[ShootFirstFirster]

Received an email from Evolution Gun Works (EGW) that they no longer ship Anything to California private addresses, must be a valid FFL address. Are they being paranoid? So even scope mounts, pic rails, screws are shipping only to FFL?

Everyone is gonna confer with their lawyers and decide the safest way posisble for their own companies. The entire firearms industry should just go voltron against the blue states in court or just pull out completely including government sales.

Glock set a very very precarious civil precedent. The domino's are falling exactly how these anti gun blue states want them to.

 

[ar15robert]

LOL local gun shop, I wish they actually stocked anything. Maybe they will now but it essentially means 20% over retail for everything that ends up being regulated as that's what every local shop charges for everything they have, it's criminal.

I have a few local shops around me. Each is different in a way as far as guns carried and accs. Had a good one that was focused on Ar rifles and easy to go in and get a part like a spring detent pin etc.

I needed a disconnector last week only way to get was buy a trigger group. So I ordered it online. But would have paid a
Little more if they had it.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Honestly I don't shop for anything in store anymore, and I'm not talking about gun stuff I mean anything. The days of driving around hoping someone has something in stock and at a good price are over, there has to be a better way.

 

[Sloat]

From MidwayUSA - this seems like what I would expect many retailers to do. They will still ship, but you will have to send in your ID. Additional signature required too, so shipping cost will necessarily go up a bit.

Dear Customer,

The CA legislature recently passed Assembly Bill 1263, which puts additional regulations on the sale and shipment of firearm parts and gunsmithing tools. Unfortunately, this means that there will be some new restrictions on how you order and how we ship firearm parts and gunsmithing tools to you.

Due to these new regulations, the following changes when ordering firearm parts and gunsmithing tools will go into effect on 12/22/2025, so that all shipments arriving in CA on or after the required implementation date of 1/1/2026 are compliant.

1. You will have to check a box confirming your understanding of the law before you’ll be able to complete an order.
2. A current state ID will be required to complete an order, so that we can validate your date of birth.
   • You can upload a license to your account at https://www.midwayusa.com/account/documents. Alternatively, if you do not have one on file when you place your first impacted order, we will ask you to upload one as you checkout.
   • You will not need to upload your license on every order; just on this first order and again when your license expires.
3. Orders must ship to the address on your ID.
4. Orders must ship adult signature required for delivery.

This law only impacts shipments of firearm parts and gunsmithing tools shipping to CA on or after 12/22/2025. Orders placed before that date, and orders for other products, are not impacted.