California members need help with this please.

Hi all I'm going to be traveling to California next month. I'll be staying in a hotel so my question is is it legal to pocess my handgun in California? When I say process I mean to have it loaded inside my hotel room? Would this be legal with me being from our of state?

The gun is a Colt Defender and the magazine's hold 7 rounds. I want to have it for self defense but not if it's going to break any laws there. I know concealed carry is out as well as having it in a car. But am wondering about having it in a hotel room. Thanks for any help.

 

If you want to simply go into/rtemporarily stay/leav California, read this: (p 7)
https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/pdf/cfl2016.pdf




In reading it further, however, the reqm't if you want STAY in California simply gives me nightmares:
https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/ab991frm.pdf

This... even worse:
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=153692.0;wap

 

Short answer: any handgun not NFA and without a threaded barrel is legal.

Being on the Roster is a different idea, and does not apply to visitors or new residents.

You already say the Colt Defender has 7 round mags; CA bans import of magazines 11 rounds or more, so you are good on that aspect.

And CA says you - any US citizen or legal resident - may have a gun, open or concealed, loaded or not, in your residence; a hotel room counts as your residence. Penal Code 26505.

 

Thanks guys much appreciated.

 

California has a couple of goofy firearms laws. If you're visiting the state, and do not establish residency, then you can bring in most lawfully owned handguns without need of a permit or registration.

But be aware of the following:

1) No importation of magazines (or other feeding device) over 10 round capacity (some specific exceptions) - Felony
2) No California-Defined Short Barrel Shotguns (like the Taurus Judge). They may not be SBS's under federal law, but they are in California - Felony
3) No threaded barrels on a semi-auto. That creates an "Assault Weapon" and another felony.
4) Open Carry is generally prohibited, but with a lot of exceptions.

The biggest one to be aware of are the laws against Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Carrying a Loaded Weapon. An unaggravated first offense is a misdemeanor if the firearm is registered (with the state DOJ) to the offender. If the firearm is not registered to the offender, then a first offense is a felony.

 

I also am faced with the prospect of a sojourn in Kalifonia. How do muzzle loaders, cap and ball revolvers, etc. fit in. (or not)

 

All I know is that for a black powder revolver you don't have to fill out any forms and if you buy it in a store you can take it home the same day. I love the look of them, I wish there were somewhere I could try shooting one and get instruction on how to load one, in my fantasy life where I have unlimited funds I'd love to have one. I did try holding one in a gun store, it didn't actually feel heavier to me than my 686 although the clerk said it was.

 

I don't know all the laws for those but generally, with the exception of no 4473 when buying, treat it just like any other firearm and follow all the same laws for CA.


OP, make sure that while driving to have it unloaded and locked in a container. A container isn't defined but it needs to locked. Ammo can be in the same container but rounds can not be in the gun at all.

 

Note that "loaded" for cap and ball is

PC 16840

 

Cap & ball and other front loaders are exempt from the registration that applies to cartridge firearms?

 

Essentially, yes.

In CA, you can still buy black powder firearms with out a 4473 from Bass Pro etc.