Were you in California when the AWB hit?

I wasn't even born yet.

My dad was around however. There were no "searches and seizures" you just had to register your "assault weapon " with the state. I don't know where you went to register, but all I know is that the state turned numerous law abiding gun owners into criminals. This is because there are a lot of people that didn't follow up with the law. So there are many firearms that are hidden in safes that probably will not see a range trip as long as they are in CA, in fear of confiscation and persecution.

Registration was by mail. DOJ was required to inform the public, and managed to do about as well as we do on gun boards - very few people paid attention.

A large number of people apparently did not realize that the law required a new action, believing that the guns were registered when purchased via the DROS - Dealer's Record Of Sale - process.

DROS is the means by which gun sales are reported to the state. For long guns of any kind, no make, model or caliber information is reported (though that info is on the paper copies of 4473 retained by the FFLs). So, CA did not have the information to make a 'targeted' search.

See also the calguns foundation wiki article - http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php/History_of_'Assault_Weapon'_laws

And, since the large-capacity magazine law took effect in 2000, and does not restrict ownership, use or possession of magazines, no magazines were confiscated; no law authorizes that, unless the possessor is a 'prohibited person'.

It's Been Done Before..!

9mmepiphany said:

I was here and there was not search or confiscation...what would lead you to believe there would be?

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Because of what happened in NYC many years ago with AW's! :banghead:

Single Action Six

I lived in Sunnyvale when the law to register went into effect. I registered my FN-LAR, which was problematic because it was stamped simply ".308 Match" and nowhere else was it marked "FN-LAR" or "FN-FAL. The nomenclature "Light Automatic Rifle" appeared only on/in the FN operator manual that came with it.

I also registered a Colt AR-15A2 Sporter.

I moved from California to Washington before the Legislature/Governor decided to ban them. I didn't bother to notify the state that I'd removed them from the state.

Yes, I was there, fighting it tooth and nail to the bitter end. This piece of sh... er, legislation was what caused me to quit my job of 14 years, sell my house, and move out of the state. I knew that if I stayed there I would be dead or in prison before too much longer.

Irony is that I landed for a while in Cincinnati, OH. I didn't know it when I arrived but the city had a prohibition against black rifles and magazines over 10 rounds. A felony charge for each violation. Let's see, I had 2 rifles and about 120 magazines. That's 122 felony counts. yeah, putting me in jail would sure have been fighting crime. While I was there some poor schmuck took his AR15 to the PD to find out if it was legal and what to do if not. He was arrested while standing at the desk.

When guns are banned we know which side the cops are on...

I lived in Los Angeles for 36 years. I was there when the Marxist Socialist inspired Roberti-Roos Act was passed. I, as did Saxon Pig, fought it right down to the wire on a political level, but the fix was in. The Marxist Socialist inspired zombie media, all gun prohibitionists, lied and lied and lied 24 hours a day about the "assault guns" and it was impossible to counter the overwhelming propaganda from them.

The NRA and the State affiliate, California Rifle & Pistol Assoc., fought it assiduously, but the far left liberal Legislature/Senate passed the bill and a super left wing RINO Republican Governor, Pete Wilson, signed it into law.

(Wilson signed every anti-guns law the Marxist Socialist inspired legislators spoon fed him, including one that made some T/C single shot pistols illegal.)

As for those who complied, some obviously did, especially the competetive shooters who used the "evil black killer rifles" in competition, etc., but most people did not comply. Some "sport" shooters also registered their banned guns.

From what I've heard from some people who would know -- and although I can't prove it, I believe it -- only about 10 % of the banned guns were registered, if that many. I have no idea how many people I knew who did own them but refused to register their banned guns.

I left in late 1997 and could not be happier living in Idaho.

L.W.

Life Member - NRA
Life Member - Calif. Rifle & Pistol Assoc.
Life Member - Calif. Wildlife Federation

At the time of the ban, I was the retail manager of the largest gunstore in L.A.---sold several tons of guns and hi-cap magazines---most of this stuff is still out there. No door-to-door searchs---none of that---the only time you see any problems concerning this law is when some poor sap finds out the gun he got from his uncle (or someone) is an illegal AW and is a felony---you can hear the lawyers rubbing their hands together, another payday! Oh well, not much crime prevented.

I was a young guy back then and I was ignorant. I had heard of the ban, but all of my guns were legal, so it didn't concern me. A couple of months later a local dealer got busted on the Roberti-Roos law
After hearing about that poor sap's arrest, I got freaked out and took a hack saw to my only AK.

I've since azquired a new California legal AK, but the whole thing really soured me on the government in general. I recently had jury duty, and one of the questions was do you have anything against the government? Well, now that you mention it...
Mauserguy



PS: The poor dealer was later acquitted since the police didn't know how to interpret and enforce the law- they just through it at him with the hope it would stick. That's dirty pool in my book. He then left the state.

JYO - "At the time of the ban, I was the retail manager of the largest gunstore in L.A.---"

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B & B Gun Sales??

I bought a lot of guns from Bob and Barry over the years.

L.W.

I sold my Hungarian AK to a shipmate for $300 and left the state of California when my time was up with the US Navy, taking my UZI Model B with me, flying out of Oakland to Tucson. 3 weeks later the ban went into effect. Guess I missed it. The only place the serials of the UZI and AK were registered was the ships armory, scrapped in 1992.

I bet I can guess what kind of impact the AWB has had on crime, but have there been any political types crowing about its success, or running on it as a campaign issue? (Sincere question, no sarcasm intended)

I bought a Bulgarian AK before the ban , saw the price of that gun go from $500 to well over $1500 , sadly now its worth only about $350 (since all the wars ak's are everywhere)!