: : Kama la D. Harris, Attorney General California Department of Justice DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT Larry J. Wallace, Director INFORMATION BULLETIN Subject: No: Contact for information 2013-BOF-03 Certification of Microstamping Technology Bureau of Firearms pursuant to Penal Code

section 31910, Date subdivision (b)(7)(

A) May 17, 2013 TO: California Licensed Firearms Dealers, California Department of Justice Certified Laboratories, Firearm Manufacturers with Firearms listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California, and all other interested persons/entities The purpose of this bulletin is to inform California licensed firearms dealers, California Department of Justice certified laboratories, firearm manufacturers with firearms listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California, and all other interested persons/entities of the Department of Justice’s certification on May 17, 2013 pursuant to Penal Code

section 31910, subdivision (b)(7)(

A) that the microstamping technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions. Background In 2007, Assembly Bill was passed and signed into law, requiring all semiautomatic pistols to be equipped with microstamping technology—“a microscopic array of characters that identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched or otherwise imprinted in two or more places on the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, and that are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired.” (Pen.

Code, § 31910, subd. (b)(7)(A).) The legislation further provided that this requirement becomes effective when the Department of Justice “certifies that the technology used to create the [microstamp] imprint is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions.” (Ibid.) Certification of the Microstamping Technology On May 17, 2013, the Department of Justice issued a certification that the microstamping technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions. A copy of the certification is attached to this bulletin.

Effect of the Department's Certification Following the issuance of the Department of Justice's certification, the provisions of Penal Code

section 31910, subdivision (b )(7)(

A) are in immediate effect. Therefore, to be listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California, a semiautomatic pistol must be equipped with microstamping technology-i.e., a microscopic array of characters that identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched or otherwise imprinted in two or more places on the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, and that are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired. (Pen.

Code,§ 31910, subd. (b)(7)(A).) Semiautomatic pistols already listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California will remain on the roster and need not incorporate the microstamping technology provided that the firearms comply with Penal Code sections 32015, 32020, and 32030. Also, please consult the Department's regulations for more information regarding how microstamping technology should be incorporated within all semi-automatic pistols and tested for compliance with Penal Code

section 31910, subdivision (b)(7)(A). (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, §§ 4046 et seq.) A link to a copy of the applicable regulations can be found at the following website: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms . For any questions regarding the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California and/or the certification ofmicrostamping technology, please contact Leslie McGo em at (916) 227-4024 or leslie.mcgovem@doj .ca.gov. For KAMALA D. HARRIS Attorney General ·------ -. ·-·-------- STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF TilE ATTORNEY GENERAL · RocHELLE C. EAST CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, LEGAL AFFAIRS CERTIFICATION UNDER ·CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE§ 319~0, SUBDMSION (b)(7)(

A) Under California Penal Code § 31910, subdivision (b)(7){A), a .~emiautomatic pistol no~ already listed on the firearm roster pursuant to .California Penal Code § 32015 is an "unsafe handgun" unless it is "designed and equipped with a micros09pic array of characters that identifY the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched or otherwise imp~ted in two or more places on the interior surface or internal wor~ng . . parts of the pistol, and that are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired, provided that the Department of Justice certifies that the technology used to cr~ate the imprint is avirllable to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions." The California Dep~ent of Justice has conducted a review of the known. and . . available patent restrictions applicable to · ·the microscopic-imprinting technology ·described in § 31910, subdivision (b)(7)(A).

Based on this review, the Department certifies that, ·as of May 17, 2013, this technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions. oc e Chief Deputy Attorney General I STREET • SUITE 1730 • SACRAMENTO, CAI..JFORN1A 95814 • PHONE (916) 324-5435 • FAX (916) 327-7154 . ~