S&W and California

[MikeBjerum]

I was reading this in the newspaper, and I saw it above in the Child Board.  However, for fullest release of information I will expand it here.

I went to www.smith-wesson.com and found the following release.  At the end of the release is the link to the full release with more information.

As I read this, California has just managed a full ban on the sale of new pistols in California.  I predict that next they will act to register existing non-compliant, and from New York we all know what will come next 

Take your blood pressure medicine and read!

http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/MSMicroSFinal.pdf

California is Forcing Smith & Wesson Corp. to Drop Most M&P Pistols.

Smith & Wesson® greatly values our loyal customers in California. Thus, it is with great regret that we announce that we are being forced by the State of California to drop certain handguns from the California market.

Every handgun available for sale in California has to be tested and approved by California to be put on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (the “Approved Roster”). That approval must be renewed every year. California has recently imposed a requirement that no new semi-automatic pistol will be approved unless it contains the so-called microstamping “technology,” a prohibitively expensive process which, according to many studies, is unproven, ineffective, and unreliable. In addition, California is also asserting that if there is virtually ANY non-cosmetic change to a semi-automatic pistol, then that existing product will be considered a “new” firearm and subject to the microstamping requirement. It should be noted that we, like all reputable firearm manufacturers, continually improve and enhance our products for the benefit of our customers. Thus, in situations where a pistol already on the Approved Roster has been improved or enhanced, we are being forced to let the pistol fall off of the Approved Roster, and it will not be eligible to return to the Approved Roster until it incorporates microstamping.

This is the situation that is occurring with the M&P® pistols by Smith & Wesson (excluding the M&P Shield). Thus, as various M&P pistols come up for renewal, they will not be approved and will fall off the Approved Roster. We would point out that two of our models, the M&P Shield and the SDVE™ (both in 9mm and .40 calibers), were recently approved just prior to the microstamping requirements, so we can continue to supply the California market with those models. Additionally, as long as California takes the position that virtually any change subjects them to microstamping, we plan to keep those models unchanged. We will also continue to supply the California market with revolvers, bolt action rifles, and modern sporting rifles, because microstamping does not apply to those products.

Read the full Smith & Wesson Corp. release here: http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/other/MSMicroSFinal.pdf

[mkm]

I've been seeing people post about "Smith & Wesson are no longer selling guns in California due to microstamping laws." They've been posting it like s&w was doing because they wanted to and praising them. According to your article, they are only doing it because they have to and then only certain guns. Much less praise worthy and much more booing all around.

[alfsauve]

It's also quite possible that a third party, one of their distributors, might modify the pistols and get them approved so they comply and can sell them (at a increased cost) to the CA market.

I know the law doesn't apply to revolvers, but I wouldn't take my revolver there just the same.  I've suggested to ICORE they cease having the IRC in CA.

[MikeBjerum]

If you read the full information you will find that there are only two models that today can be sold in California under the law, the SVDE and the M&P Shield.  Everything else is out of compliance.  Within twelve months these two models will need to renew their Roster status and will fail as well.

If all you read are the snipit pieces in newspapers you are left thinking that it is only S&W's newest model that is affected, and that the rest of their handgun lineup is ok.  That is false!

This is the case with all pistol manufacturers!  Nobody has this technology in place and ready to go, much less proven either effective or reliable from both the stamping and firearm function point of view.

What is telling is that off all the handgun makers in the world, Sturm Ruger filed the law suit, and Smith and Wesson is the only other at this point to join.

[kmitch200]

I want the ENTIRE INDUSTRY to write off Kalifornia.
No ammo, no primers/bullets/cases/powder, no parts, no service to any 'exempts' either. (LEO)

Need a screw for a grip panel? Go to the hardware store. Gov. Moonbat needs security? Buy a dog.
You elect these bozos - you live with the consequences.

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

um the way the law is written, unless the guy that holds the patten on micro stamping makes it public, the law does not apply.  some thing is fishy here.

[Pathfinder]

I want the ENTIRE INDUSTRY to write off Kalifornia.
No ammo, no primers/bullets/cases/powder, no parts, no service to any 'exempts' either. (LEO)

Need a screw for a grip panel? Go to the hardware store. Gov. Moonbat needs security? Buy a dog.
You elect these bozos - you live with the consequences.

Yeah, this!

Anyone with a CA address gets NOTHING in the way of gun goodies.

[dipisc]

Hi;

     I am for the ban on sales to Gov't entities in kalifornia, But we must remember that there are a lot of good Law Abiding Citizens who have guns in Kalifornia. How many SASS people are there? Not all parts of Kalifornia are nuts and loons.

     if there was a way to pck and choose who you sell to - may be the way...

     Ronny Barrett - is his ban on Kalifornia still in effect ?

[MikeBjerum]

TAB,

Do you ever look into things before you speak type?

The reason this came out is because the Courts threw out the patten restriction, and opened the doors for enforcement of the legislation.

[tombogan03884]

If you read the full information you will find that there are only two models that today can be sold in California under the law, the SVDE and the M&P Shield.  Everything else is out of compliance.  Within twelve months these two models will need to renew their Roster status and will fail as well.

If all you read are the snipit pieces in newspapers you are left thinking that it is only S&W's newest model that is affected, and that the rest of their handgun lineup is ok.  That is false!

This is the case with all pistol manufacturers!  Nobody has this technology in place and ready to go, much less proven either effective or reliable from both the stamping and firearm function point of view.

What is telling is that off all the handgun makers in the world, Sturm Ruger filed the law suit, and Smith and Wesson is the only other at this point to join.

I don't know if it has any bearing on the situation, but S&W and Ruger are the only 2 publicly traded gun companies.
They have also been 2 of the best performing stocks for the last several years.