Can I have guns shipped to California?

[alanwk]

My son in Texas is in the Air Force. He is being sent to Japan for a few years. He has several handguns that he would like to send to me in California. I know they would have to be sent by a FFL to FFL. How difficult would this be? What restrictions, etc are there? Thanks.

 

[TurtlePhish]

I believe California only allows certain handguns in-state. There's a list, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[SaxonPig]

CA has layers of laws on handguns. Sending them for storage in that state opens a big can of worms. If they are not on the approved list they cannot be imported. Any autos cannot have mags over 10 rounds. All pistols must be registered with the state DoJ.

If all he needs is temporary storage, I would NOT send them to CA. Leave them with somebody in a more gun friendly state.

 

[BLB68]

Any reason he can't take them to Japan? When I was in the service (got out in '93, so things may have changed), we kept our personal weapons in the armory. Coming back into country from Germany, we just had to do an ATF form.

 

[firesky101]

I would go ask over on calguns, there is a lot of technicalities in the law here. For instance as long as he is not bringing in anything that violates the AWB it does not matter if it is on a list. If he transfers them to you from an out of state FFL then yes it matters. If he brings them here himself, and you want to do a transfer then it does not matter. So... Calguns is a great resource for doing things the legal way, and figuring out the "loopholes" in the silly laws.

 

[316SS]

Check out this thread at calguns:

It appears that your son can transfer non-roster guns to you based on an intra-family exemption. You would need to transfer via an FFL. The exemption does not apply to magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds.

 

[rromeo]

They don't necessarily have to be sent from an FFL, that's up to your receiving FFL.
The CA Roster is exempt for intrafamial transfers, so make sure they understand that. Where are you? I may have a few recommendations.
The big problem is that most California FFLs think transfers=license to gouge. Average price is $75, I've heard of $150.

 

[danez71]

If he has mags greater than 10 rounds and wanys to keep them, he can disassemble them and they become "parts kits" and are perfectly legal in CA when they left disassembled.

There are even online retailers that sell complete parts kits of mags of greater than 10 rounds into CA.

 

[Zoogster]

It would be a pain.

Storefront FFLs charge a fee, generally higher than the typical DROS fees for out of state transfers. (Some over $50-$100 or more per gun.)
I think a lot of this is to keep people from bypassing thier inventory and getting what can typically be found cheaper online. They make up the price difference in most good deals through transfer costs.
But it still applies to plain transfers too.
All guns must be transferred through an FFL.


You have to then register every handgun with the CADOJ, which charges a fee per handgun.
I think it is $19 per gun.


No handgun can have magazines over 10 rounds, or threaded barrels.
Disassembled mags are legal, as are threaded barrels not installed in a pistol.
Threaded barrel on a semi-auto handgun instantly turns it into a prohibited 'assault weapon' with a 10 year prison term.




You also need to possess a current HSC that last 5 years, $25 and a test.

 

[Librarian]

All guns must be transferred through an FFL.

You have to then register every handgun with the CADOJ, which charges a fee per handgun.

No, if the gun goes through an FFL, the registration bit accomplished by the form is not needed. DROS through the FFL takes care of it.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Does the base in Texas have a gun club on base. If it does see if they have storage. Here at Ft.Bliss our Rod and Gun club has storage where many deployed leave their weapons while overseas. Granted its not free but they are secure.

 

[Zoogster]

Oh my mistake Librarian.
Yes the registration is if your son brought them over because he became a resident.
The registration is automatically done for transfers of handguns (and soon long guns) through an FFL. Most people don't even realize it is done.