California residents will be facing another hit when it comes to their 2nd Amendment rights. The new microstamping regulation is forcing yet another gun maker to cease sales on all guns that fall under the new regulation. The Microstamping Law  was actually signed back in the year 2007 under then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, because of private patents, the new law could not take effect until these were expired. In this instance, the State of California would require the gun manufacturer to  micro laser-engrave a code on two different parts of each gun. The law requires that the engraving must include the gun’s make, model and serial number. What is disturbing about this is that one of the parts that would require the stamp is the firing pin. In essence, once the gun is fired, that information would imprint on the cartridge casing thus allowing law enforcement to trace the “smoking gun”.

Earlier this month, Ruger Firearms announced that it would cease the sale of guns in California that would require the new stamp. Now, Smith & Wesson will join forces with Ruger in their fight to protect the rights of gun owners in the state of California. Both manufacturers claim that microstamping is not effective and the cost would then have to be passed on to the consumer. That is NOT how either company would want to do business. In fact, Ruger Firearms CEO, Mike Fifer cites  peer reviewed studies obtained from Guns.com articles showing how ineffective microstamping really is. According to these studies, criminals can easily switch firing pins with unmarked spare parts using just common household tools. Also, the study made the claim that very few crime labs had the imaging technology required to identify the actual cartridge casing’s stamp. These experts concluded that further studies must be completed before microstamping is mandated.

“We’re being forced out of the state by the California Department of Justice — This insistence in microstamping, which doesn’t work, is denying you your rights to have access to these guns,” said Ruger Firearms CEO in a statement put out earlier this month.

It is important to know that not all gun manufacturing will cease in the state of California. Smith & Wesson will still continue their sales of guns that do not have to be enforced under the new regulations. The new law affects semi-automatic pistols however, the sales of revolvers, bolt action rifles, the new Shield and SDVE pistols will continue to be sold in the state of California.

Not all hope is lost for California residents when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. Both companies will be joining the fight adding that they will be working with the NRA and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in opposition to the new law. The NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI) filed a lawsuit on January 9th in opposition to the new law. Both manufacturers are encouraging California residents to support them in their fight to protect their 2nd Amendment rights.