This law was passed by the state legislature in 1988. This law was passed in October, 1973. Although a handful of other states ban most Saturday Night Specials based on the melting point of materials used to construct them, in 1988 Maryland became the first state to ban the sale of these weapons based on their overall low quality. The state created in 1988 a Handgun Roster Board to determine which handguns are useful for legitimate sporting, self-protection, or law enforcement purposes. Guns which do not meet its criteria are banned.
Handguns placed on the roster list are illegal to posses in the state.
Despite spending millions of dollars, this initiative failed, marking the first time an NRA-backed initiative was defeated in a state referendum. This law was passed in June, 1975. This law was passed in 1973. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to supply, sell, give, control, manufacture or cause to be manufactured in California, any handgun listed on the roster. Handguns listed will be those which, if made outside of the United States, would be prohibited from importation.