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California legal term

magazine disconnect mechanism in California Criminal Law

Current through 2026 California legislative session

In California criminal law, “magazine disconnect mechanism” 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 “magazine disconnect mechanism” mean in California criminal law?

“magazine disconnect mechanism” means a mechanism that prevents a semiautomatic pistol that has a detachable magazine from operating to strike the primer of ammunition in the firing chamber when a detachable magazine is not inserted in the semiautomatic pistol. (Cal. Penal Code § 16900)

Statutes defining or using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.