Handguns in California

[IOwnTheWorld1994]

So in order to buy a gun in CA, it has to be on the approved list. But what about guns out of state? Or guns purchased at a gun show? I know you have to register it within 60 days to the CADOJ or its a crime. How does California regulate it? Do you get to bring them with you, or are they treated like AW and a felony if found with them and therefore wise to leave them in the state you got it in?

 

[natman]

Are you a CA resident?

 

[CWL]

http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php/Transferring_firearms_Interstate

illegal for CA resident to buy out of State

illegal for dealer to sell to resident of other State

Violation is a misdemeanor
26500. (a) No person shall sell, lease, or transfer firearms unless
the person has been issued a license pursuant to Article 1
(commencing with Section 26700) and Article 2 (commencing with
Section 26800) of Chapter 2.
(b) Any person violating this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.


You can buy handguns to be shipped to your local FFL from out of State, but they still need to be on the Roster.

 

[Frank Ettin]

So in order to buy a gun in CA, it has to be on the approved list. But what about guns out of state? Or guns purchased at a gun show? I know you have to register it within 60 days to the CADOJ or its a crime. How does California regulate it? Do you get to bring them with you, or are they treated like AW and a felony if found with them and therefore wise to leave them in the state you got it in?

A lot of what you said is incorrect.

1. If you are a resident of California, under federal law a resident of another State may not transfer a gun to you (with a couple of minor, narrow exceptions) except through a California FFL. Gifts are not exempt. Transactions between relatives are not exempt. Private transactions are not exempt. Transactions at gun shows are not exempt.
   
   
   • Violation of federal interstate firearm transfer laws is a federal felony.
     
     
   • Both the transferor and transferee in most cases will be subject to up to five years in federal prison and/or a large fine (plus a lifetime loss of gun rights).
   
   
2. Every transfer of a gun in California (with a couple of minor, narrow exceptions) must go through a California FFL. Gifts are not exempt. Transactions between relatives (except parent/grandparent to/from child/grandchild) are not exempt. Private transactions are not exempt. Transactions at gun shows are not exempt.
   
   
3. In general, handguns purchased by or through a California FFL must be on the Roster of Handguns Approved for Sale.
   
   
   • There are a few exceptions.
     
     
     • If the particular handgun you want to buy was actually made more than 50 years ago, it is exempt from the Roster.
       
       
     • Certain single action revolvers are exempt from the Roster.
       
       
     • Certain single shot handguns are exempt from the Roster.
       
       
     • A transfer from/to a parent/grandparent to/from child/grandchild is exempt from the Roster.
       
       
     • A private transaction when both the transferor and transferee are residents of California and have personally appeared at the dealer (including consignment sales) is exempt from the Roster.
     
     
   • Transactions in which the handgun is shipped to the California transfer dealer (whether interstate or intrastate) are not exempt from the Roster.

 

[Jason_W]

I really hope the microstamping law is successfully overturned. Of all the California gun laws, that one is definitely the stupidest.

It also really irks me that law enforcement agencies are exempt from the requirement. Why shouldn't shots fired by LEOs be equally as traceable as shots fired by civilians?

 

[IOwnTheWorld1994]

I really hope the microstamping law is successfully overturned. Of all the California gun laws, that one is definitely the stupidest.

It also really irks me that law enforcement agencies are exempt from the requirement. Why shouldn't shots fired by LEOs be equally as traceable as shots fired by civilians?

It's been like that forever and a day. LEO is always exempt from the stuff that civilians are not. I guess society believes that people who so called "protect and serve" should receive special treatment because of their job and the dangers that go along with them.

 

[Jason_W]

It's been like that forever and a day. LEO is always exempt from the stuff that civilians are not. I guess society believes that people who so called "protect and serve" should receive special treatment because of their job and the dangers that go along with them.

This one in particularly bothers me, though. The spirit of the law (misguided and uninformed though it may be) is all about trace-ability and by extension, accountability. What the law basically says is that Californians are perfectly OK with our public servants being less accountable than the general public. That's troubling to say the least.

My wife and I relocated to from Maine to California in March so she could take a promotion with her employer. We're already dreaming of our future escape to Oregon.

 

[EezyBeezy]

So in order to buy a gun in CA, it has to be on the approved list.

Yes/No, off roster handguns can be purchased through Single Shot Exemption(SSE) and off roster revolver through Single Action Exemption(SAE). Both SSE and SAE are perfectly legal to acquire off roster handguns *NOTE* SSE is ending 12.31.2014 @ 11:59pm

But what about guns out of state? Or guns purchased at a gun show?

Handguns can be purchased out of state at a fee depending on the receiving FFL, usually at least $45. Off roster handguns can be purchased from out of state as well if the out of state dealer/private party is willing to ship to CA FFL via SSE/SAE/LEO, usually all handguns must be shipped through a FFL or the receiving FFL is capable of receiving handguns from a private individual. Standard capacity mags(10+ rnds) can be shipped to CA FFL's who possess a High-Capacity Magazine Permit. Ymmv if your lgs performs SSE/SAE and posses a High Capacity Magazine Permit to accept standard capacity mags and block them down to 10rnds, also if the out of state dealer/private party is willing to ship off roster handguns and standard capacity mags to CA.

BTW if you're interested in purchasing a off roster handgun GET IT ASAP before the end of the year.

Here is a thread link on Calguns to get more detailed information on SSE: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=383692

 

[rogdigity]

Info on california c&r lincenses and importing handguns into the state

If you hold a c&r licese in California you cant have handguns shipped to you as California has a rule that they need to go through an 01 FFL still... When I lived in California I had a c&r license at my San Diego residence and another at my residence outside Lincoln Nebraska. I was able to buy handguns and have them delivered to my Nebraska address. When I decided to terminate my Nebraska address I moved all my firearms to my San Diego address. The ATF was NOT all too keen on that though and though my Nebraska license WAS still active at my fathers residence, they decided since it was not a primary residence that they would just take the liberty of canceling that one for me....

Now when I moved them to California I filled out and filed with the CA-DOJ the appropriate "handgun import application". This app is basically just a notification to the state of California that hey, I moved here and brought my guns with me and I'm keeping them.


I have been in Texas for almost 5 years now. A while back, while going through a seperation, a friend moved from San Diego to Texas and stayed with me for a few months. He bought a couple guns in the time he lived with me but then got back together with his wife and moved back. He filed out the same paperwork and filed it and had no issues.

Now if you want to buy a gun off roster the only way possible is to move, get a residence where you moved to, ESTABLISH A RESIDENCE AND MAINTAIN IT, terminate your California residence, buy all the firearms you wish. The. The most important part, don't move back :-D

But seriously, if you plan on owning firearms, California isn't the most friendly state