Federal Law and California Law define a machine gun as follows:
If an old school break action side by side double barreled shotgun has a trigger mechanism that allows for shooting both barrels at once with one pull of the trigger, is that a machine gun?
The term "machinegun" as used in this chapter means any
weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can readily be restored
to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual
reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also
include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed
and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed
and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and
any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if
such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.
weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can readily be restored
to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual
reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term shall also
include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed
and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed
and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and
any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if
such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

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