Smith & Wesson Does NOT & Will NOT Include Microstamping In Its Firearms

Smith and Wesson
Smith and Wesson

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(Ammoland.com)- Smith & Wesson Corp. announced today that although it continually seeks ways to refine and improve its firearms so that consumers have access to the best possible products, the State of California is making that impossible when it comes to California residents.

Under California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act,” any new semi-automatic pistol introduced into that state must comply with microstamping laws. In addition, California asserts that anything other than a cosmetic change to a handgun already on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, including performance enhancements and other improvements, requires it to be removed from the roster and retested. For semi-automatic pistols, this means it must comply with the microstamping requirements, as well.

Smith & Wesson does not and will not include microstamping in its firearms.

A number of studies have indicated that microstamping is unreliable, serves no safety purpose, is cost prohibitive and, most importantly, is not proven to aid in preventing or solving crimes. The microstamping mandate and the company’s unwillingness to adopt this so-called technology will result in a diminishing number of Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistols available for purchase by California residents.

This is not a problem unique to Smith & Wesson. The microstamping legislation and California’s position regarding performance enhancements and other improvements creates the same challenge for all firearm manufacturers, since presumably all of them refine and improve their products over time.

Smith & Wesson currently produces a California-compliant version of its M&P Shield and SDVE™ pistols. Both of these new products were launched last week at SHOT Show® in Las Vegas and are expected to begin shipping within 90 days. They are expected to more than offset the impact of those M&P pistol models that will not remain on the Roster. Both the M&P Shield and the SDVE pistols are expected to remain on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale as long as no changes are made to those models and the company does not plan to make changes to them for this reason. All other Smith & Wesson handguns are at risk of eventually falling off the roster over time. The company expects that any current production revolvers that fall off will be re-tested and returned to the roster, since microstamping does not apply to revolvers. Without some change in position by California, however, any semi-automatic pistols (other than the California-compliant models referenced above) that are removed from the roster will not be returned and law-abiding citizens will not be permitted to buy them from a licensed dealer in California.

James Debney, Smith & Wesson President & CEO, said, “As our products fall off the roster due to California’s interpretation of the Unsafe Handgun Act, we will continue to work with the NRA and the NSSF to oppose this poorly conceived law which mandates the unproven and unreliable concept of microstamping and makes it impossible for Californians to have access to the best products with the latest innovations.

At the same time, we will do our best to support our customers in California with state-compliant products, enabling them access to at least a portion of the firearms to which we believe all citizens are entitled. In these challenging times, we hope you will support Smith & Wesson, and all gun manufacturers, in our fight to make the Unsafe Handgun Act about safety. We also encourage you to support the NSSF’s lawsuit and other efforts to stop microstamping, before it impacts your Constitutional rights.”

Unless California changes its position, all M&P pistols other than the M&P Shield, will fall off the roster by August, 2014, due to performance enhancements and other improvements we have made to those firearms. This includes the M&P9c, which has fallen off already and several other M&P models that will fall off by the end of this month. Other models already have fallen off and will continue to fall off for the same reason. Visit https://oag.ca.gov/sites/oag.ca.gov/files/pdfs/firearms/removed.pdf each week for a list published by the California Department of Justice of the handguns no longer on the roster.

California firearms dealers should check the official California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale frequently, to determine which handguns are certified for sale in California. This list can be found at https://certguns.doj.ca.gov/.

About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products and training to the consumer, law enforcement, and military markets. The company’s brands include Smith & Wesson®, M&P® and Thompson/Center Arms™. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts and Maine. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

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LostProton

The camouflaged issue here is when are the California legislators going to send the Governor a revised bill requiring all firearms, not just semiautomatic handguns, manufactured after a certain date to have microstamping. Think about it; why would you only require microstamping on only certain semiautomatic handguns. When they catch this one it will be like Connecticut with long lines to determine if a replacement microstamped firing pin is available for your piece. If there is not then your piece is illegal and will have to be destroyed, or made inoperable. New York Safe Act is a prime example. Get… Read more »

Darrell

This is in fact exactly what these Marxists want, total ban. except they didn’t have to come right out and do it. They made the firearms manufactures do it. Of course all of the laws of the Marxist State of California have done leaps and bounds to protect their citizens and stop the violence. What? You mean it has had no effect? Just feel good laws of Liberal, Social, Marxists, one more step towards full population control. Hey, Californians, keep your cancer there, you’re not wanted elsewhere!

Carlos

What’s gonna happen is more and more law abiding folks will say “f*** it!” and just go outta state for weapons. They will gamble and become the very thing they shoot at, law breakers. Ah, the unintended products of liberalism….

Evan

It’s way past time where we “stamp” our politicians and their minions with the numbers “666” on their foreheads for all to see. CA should be first, followed by IL, NY, and all of those who are in Congress and the Executive Branch.

harold alexander

I appalud Smith&Wesson for taking a stand for its customers
I will continue to support this company and their quality products. I salute you good sirs.

Tom

I believe that all firearm manufactures should never allow their company be told how to produce a reliable, safe firearms. We all know micro stamping will do nothing to prevent or assist in deterring crime what so ever and WHY would we exempt law enforcement from this law? What they lose their guns? Really? This is the latest attempt to undermine the Second Amendment in California by politicians with little to no knowledge of firearms, who seek to impose their liberal values upon those who choose to protect their families with the constitutional right to own a handgun. Just add… Read more »

Irvin

Thank you Smith and Wesson and I also heard Ruger has joined them on the stance. California is run by a bunch of a**holes, I have lost a lot of money to their idiotic regulations almost to the point where I don’t even want to do business with anyone in the state. I avoid it if at all possible regardless.

dan

It will only stop…when YOU stop it…and soon millions and millions more will be able to cast a vote for tyranny by voting for the democratic candidates….as this nation slides into the abyss….Semper Fi

Bill

Good for S&W
what they need to do is stop government sales. ALL USA GUN COMPANIES NEED TO STOP GOVERMENT SALES TO THE LEFT COAST.

We also need to stop the Obama executive order gun grab.
Demand the NRA stop playing games and stop OBAMA CARE GUN CONTROL

Rod

I HOPE they stop selling to Law Enforcement as well, just like the Gun Company that makes the .50 cal Rifles.

TSgt B

When it comes down to it, all compliance with “law” is VOLUNTARY. We make a conscious choice to either obey the “law”, or not.

This is what the sheeple of Kalifornia have encouraged by decades of bending over to unjust, unethical, unconstitutional laws and lawmakers(breakers).

You have 2 ways to deal with this: obey the Tyrants, or REVOLT. There are no other options.

Dave Ki

Lynn we will take them in OR. but they gotta give up the Ca. way and swear allegiance.Or some such thing.

mark bigger

im proud of S&W for their stance. I have never bought anything other than S&W, am completely happy with them, except their ability to make mags and M&P’s more readily available. Thank you S&W

Lynn

Way to go California! What else can you screw up? Oh, I forgot, you have Pelosi so that answers that question.

James

S&W is no longer part of Thompson PLC,
when that Clinton deal was done.

Gene

Northern California needs to succeed from the southern end where most of the idiots seem to live.

Rich

It is too bad that interstate business is being held hostage to such a wrong worded law that does noting for gun safety or to prevent criminals from getting guns. The only people hurt are thew honest people in California.

Hope S&W and Ruger along with others who can’t sell to everyday people also do not sell to agencies inside California as we’d hate to have a double standard.

Dr. Strangelove

This is about control, not safety or crime prevention. Only the liberal sheeple are fooled by this feel-good legislation.

John

Smith & Wesson opened the door to government mandated firearm designs when they made that deal with the Clinton Justice Department several years back. That agreement probably enables nonsense like “micro-stamping” and whatever else these “Progressives” dream up!