California’s Handgun Roster Under Fire – Big Legal Shifts Could Change Everything

California’s controversial handgun roster—a law that limits which handguns can be sold in the state—has long been criticized for being overly restrictive and outdated. This government-approved list only includes models that pass California’s unique safety tests, often requiring manufacturers to make costly and impractical modifications, such as adding a loaded chamber indicator, magazine disconnect, and microstamping technology. The microstamping requirement, in particular, effectively froze the list with decades-old models because the tech isn’t commercially viable.

But that’s started to change.

Thanks to a legal victory in Bolan v. Bonta, a federal judge issued an injunction blocking enforcement of several of these requirements. While California appealed parts of the ruling, the state did not challenge the injunction against microstamping. That means manufacturers can now submit newer models for approval, and several have already been added to the roster.

However, things aren’t entirely looking up. Another California law—the “3-for-1” rule—requires that for every new handgun added to the roster, three older, grandfathered models must be removed. This has raised alarms, as many of the older handguns don’t meet California’s current standards, placing the entire existing roster at risk of massive shrinkage.

The legality of this 3-for-1 rule, along with the core handgun roster restrictions, is being challenged in the Renna v. Bonta case. Originally filed in 2020, this case also won an injunction at the district court level, which was then stayed by the Ninth Circuit. After a long pause, it’s back in motion, and new briefs were filed as recently as this month.

With major Second Amendment groups backing Renna v. Bonta, and a strong legal argument that these types of restrictions have no historical precedent, there’s real potential to overturn large parts of California’s roster laws. If the Ninth Circuit rules against it, the case could even make its way to the Supreme Court—possibly affecting similar laws across the country.

That said, one major issue remains: SB 452, a law signed in 2023, plans to reinstate the microstamping requirement in 2028 after further research. So, even if progress is made now, Californians aren’t out of the woods just yet.

In short, the fight over California’s handgun roster is heating up again. And with multiple major legal cases—like Miller, Renna, and others—back on track after delays, the landscape could shift significantly in the near future.

Stay tuned.