DraftDraft definitions, under editorial review. Informational content is not legal advice.
DraftCalifornia legislation history
The Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act was California’s 1989 enactment identifying specified firearm brands and models as assault weapons. [1] DOJ distinguishes this original named-firearm category from later categories involving specified series and firearm characteristics. [2] The present Penal Code places named-model provisions in section 30510 and characteristic-based provisions in section 30515. [3] The historical name therefore does not describe only the later feature definitions, and a reference to the 1989 act should be separated from a claim about the effect of subsequent amendments. [1][2][3]
- 1. California DOJ: June 2021 statement on the history of the Assault Weapons Control Actretrieved 2026-10-04
- 2. California DOJ: Assault weapons and .50 BMG questionsretrieved 2026-10-04
- 3. California Penal Code: Assault weapon definitionsretrieved 2026-10-04
See also
- assault weapon (California definition)Draft
A statutory classification with more than one route to definition: Penal Code section 30510 identifies designated semiautomatic firearms, while section 30515 adds classifications based on firearm category, magazine arrangement, listed characteristics, capacity and length.
About this glossary
This entry is one of 153 defined terms in the CalGunHub glossary of California and federal firearm-law vocabulary. The 11 core terms are short plain-English definitions; the extended terms are cited research drafts, labelled as drafts, with their statutory sources listed under each entry. Every definition here is informational only and is not legal advice.
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