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Rifles in deadly shooting legal in state with strict laws

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials conduct the investigation on Thursday Dec. 3, 2015, at the scene of the shoot out between law enforcement officers and suspects in a mass shooting on Orange Show Drive in San Bernardino, Calif. A heavily armed husband and wife dressed for battle opened fire on a holiday banquet for his co-workers Wednesday, killing multiple people and seriously wounding others in a precision assault, authorities said. Hours later, they died in a shootout with police. (James Quigg/Daily Press via AP)
San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials conduct the investigation on Thursday Dec. 3, 2015, at the scene of the shoot out between law enforcement officers and suspects in a mass shooting on Orange Show Drive in San Bernardino, Calif. A heavily armed husband and wife dressed for battle opened fire on a holiday banquet for his co-workers Wednesday, killing multiple people and seriously wounding others in a precision assault, authorities said. Hours later, they died in a shootout with police. (James Quigg/Daily Press via AP) San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials conduct the investigation on Thursday Dec. 3, 2015, at the scene of the shoot out between law enforcement officers and suspects in a mass shooting on Orange Show Drive in San Bernardino, Calif. A heavily armed husband and wife dressed for battle opened fire on a holiday banquet for his co-workers Wednesday, killing multiple people and seriously wounding others in a precision assault, authorities said. Hours later, they died in a shootout with police. (James Quigg/Daily Press via AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The military-style rifles used in the deadly California shootings were legally purchased, the U.S. government said Thursday.

The two rifles were not specifically listed among the models outlawed under California’s famously tough gun laws, and as long as each included a minor design change affecting how bullets are loaded into the weapon they would have been legal.

California limited access to high-powered, military-style rifles in 1989 and lawmakers passed further restrictions in 2000, when they banned specific types of AR-15 and AK-47 style rifles. Included in the ban were rifles that can use detachable ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and have other characteristics. Ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets are also outlawed.

But rifles that aren’t specifically listed in the ban are considered legal, as long as a tool is required to release the ammunition magazine. The change is intended to effectively limit the number of rounds the gun can fire because it presumably takes extra time to reload.

California’s law prompted the gun industry to start marketing military-style rifles with so-called bullet buttons, a sort of sleeve that blocks quick access to the release button. Users can use the tip of a spare bullet or a tool to release the gun’s magazine, although a small magnet can be attached to the button so that users can quickly press it using just their finger.