Cautions by unknowledgeable (and usually out-of-state but not always) posters above are effectively gun control in disguise.
This thread subject's commentary really should be restricted to those here in CA who understand the actual law - and not by those getting info from the 'handed-down- thru-5-layers-of-gunshop-rumor', or who make assumptions due to other states' hicap mag laws.
For the best ongoing information in California gun politics/gun laws, I urge folks to visit
http://www.calguns.net
Remember, the CA hicap mag law basically says if you got/possessed a hicap mag in CA before 1 Jan 00, it's good to go. It does not restrict possession, only further acquisition/trading. That's all it does.
CA's hicap mag law has so much slop in it - and the burden of proof is so high - that it's well-nigh unenforceable except for the limited list of self- incriminating situations like:
- acquiring hicap mags on/after 1 Jan 00, and having witnesses or receipts or credit card
records showing importation of those exact magazines.
- directly being observed by CA DOJ Bureau of Firearms agents attending adjoining-state gun shows
(Big Reno Show, etc.) while purchasing hicap mags - and then importing them into CA .... traffic stop
over the CA/NV border, etc.
- possessing unique mags for guns that weren not in production/for sale before 1 Jan 2000.
[A separate law makes use of a *fixed* (non-detachable by hand) hicap mag in a semiauto centerfire rifle a no-no, as that triggers an alternate definition of a generic assault weapon. It was designed to stop SKSes with extended magazines, even fixed ones - but also has the odd (likely unintended) effect of saying you have an assault weapon if you screwed down your hicap mag in your regular, legal, non-AW M1A or Mini-14!!!]
It's entirely legal to use a pre-2000 legally-owned hicap mag in a newer gun. Decide to get a new Glock 17 or Sig 226 and have a bagful of mags purchased in 1999? Go for it. Harley Quinn's comments in the post above about serial#s/production dates are irrelevant and a
non sequitur.
It's entirely legal to import/reimport hicap mags that you already owned in CA before 1/1/2000: you can take your legal hicap mags back & forth into CA on trips. I drive/fly out of/into CA with hicap mags all the time without fear.
There is ZERO expressed or inferrable residency requirement, or time-passed restriction beyond which you can't bring 'em in..... If you were an AZ resident and bought those hicap mags at a California gunshow back in 1975, you're allowed to bring them back in. If you bought hicap mags while in CA (anytime before 2000) in the past, then move out of CA, then move back into CA sometime after 2000, you can indeed bring your hicaps back with you.
Oh - since a hicap mag does not have any 'primacy of componentry' codified into law (i.e, the tube, follower, floorplate, spring are all of an equivalent nature: there's no concept of anything like a receiver vs. gun) - over time, a legally-possessed hicap mag can be 100% repaired by having
all of its parts replaced. Mags are/were not serialized, registered, etc. and because of the repair allowance idiocies like 'toolmark examination' are moot.
It's entirely legal to purchase repair parts, including disassembled hicap mags, to repair existing legally-owned hicaps. We have an opinion letter from DOJ/AG's office saying this.
There's no defacto age restriction either: if you were, say, age 16 in 2000 you coulda had hicap mags you bought (as uncontrolled items) at a gunshow.
Remember the burden of proof is on the opposition. This is in no way recommending any illegal conduct w/hicap mags in CA, but merely to give confidence to those already owning them that they should feel free to use them.
Bill Wiese
San Jose CA