California legal term
machinegun-convertible pistol in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “machinegun-convertible pistol” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “machinegun-convertible pistol” mean in California criminal law?
“machinegun-convertible pistol” means any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted by hand or with common household tools, as defined in Section 4082 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, into a machinegun by the installation or attachment of a pistol converter as a replacement for the slide’s backplate without any additional engineering, machining, or modification of the pistol’s trigger mechanism. (Cal. Penal Code § 16885)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.