I'm moving to California in April, and I have 3 handguns...

[StrikeFire83]

Okay, well, there you have it. I'm moving to California for work in April and I have three handguns which I would like to take with me.

1) Glock 17
2) Springfield XD-45
3) Ruger Sp-101

Now I've already confirmed that all of these guns are on the Cali DOJ's "safe list" in terms of product safety, so I'm all clear there.

From what I understand, I can bring these weapons, unloaded of couse, with the LOW CAP mags that I'm going to have to buy, in my vehicle with me during the move.

I found something called the NEW RESIDENT HANDGUN OWNERSHIP REPORT, which the Cali website says needs to be filled out within 60 days of entrance to the state.

From my pretty exhaustive search that's all I've found that I need to do. Does anyone have any other info that I may have missed. If follow the aforementioned steps will I be A-OK in the eyes of John Q. Law?

Thanks.

 

[crazed_ss]

Yea.. you need to pay the fee ($19 per gun) and "register" the handguns when you get here. That should be it.

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/ab991.php?PHPSESSID=9645369b937913b5acd1fbd8f2627573

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Sorry to hear that

Don't have details for you regarding Caliphornia.

If it turns out you can't take your normal capacity mags with you at all, I would suggest finding a storage facility of some kind, or a friend, or family, or one of the Nevada dudes on the High Road and park them there. No sense getting rid of them -- unless of course you're planning on spending the rest of your life there.

 

[Trebor]

Don't bring any mags into California that hold more than 10 rounds.

 

[ForeverArmed]

You don't HAVE to obey any "law" and are not morally obliged to do so unless the law protects innocent people from harm. Dianne Feinstein et al. have no more authority over you than any other organized criminals.

Nevertheless, I'm not going to advise you to break any "law." If you don't mind those goons knowing about your guns and don't mind being limited to 10-round mags, then you might as well play along just for your peace of mind.

 

[crazed_ss]

For the people who always advocate "ignoring" gun laws in places like CA and NY.. do you guys also ignore laws in your own state?

Do you guys carry without permits? Own unregistered NFA items? Sell guns to known felons?

Afterall, such laws are unconstitutional right?

 

[Autolycus]

Try finding some preban magazines. I am sure people in states without these silly restrictions would be willing to trade your newer magazines for their older pre94 magazines.

I agree with Crazed SS. It is very easy to tell others to ignore an unconstitutional law when your safe in your state. However come and carry here in IL. Hell, why not open carry? It is supported by the 2nd amendment right? Tell the judges that you are exercising your rights. I am sure that will go over well and you wont be a felon.

Remember its easier to say than it is to do. Especially when your not the one who is facing the harsh consequences.

 

[Ed Ames]

StrikeFire83... you've pretty much got it covered. A couple notes though:

Now I've already confirmed that all of these guns are on the Cali DOJ's "safe list" in terms of product safety, so I'm all clear there.

Doesn't matter... the "safe list" only applies to dealer sales... you can bring in anything that doesn't run afoul of the AW rules (e.g no threaded barrels ) ... in fact, many people in your situation head to the gun store and buy something they won't otherwise be able to get.

Mags... don't mess with it. Pre-ban or post-ban doesn't matter, you must've possessed it in CA before 2000... you won't have become a resident until 2007 and that's the sort of thing prosecutors notice.

Strongly suggest you read this as well: http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/hscsg.pdf ... it's the study guide for the "test" (that only an idiot could fail) you must take to buy handguns here. It has a legal section which discusses everything from the new resident requirements to the concept of "criminal storage". It's the minimum information a new CA handgun owner must know to stay out of trouble.

Locked storage is a must here if you want to avoid certain kinds of criminal liability.

 

[romma]

be sure to "Grass Roots" up when you get there and fight the evil oppressors!!

 

[Trebor]

Try finding some preban magazines. I am sure people in states without these silly restrictions would be willing to trade your newer magazines for their older pre94 magazines.

No, that won't work in California. He can only own a 10 round plus magazine in California if he's *already* in the state and *already* owns the magazine. Even then, he can't transfer those magazines to anyone else or buy or receive any new magazines. The manufacturing date of the mag is irrelevant. What is important is that he owned them, in the state of California, before the mag ban went into effect.

 

[Ed Ames]

be sure to "Grass Roots" up when you get there and fight the evil oppressors!!

That's the best bit of advice posted in this thread. +10

 

[Gewehr98]

I hope nobody's so naieve...

For the people who always advocate "ignoring" gun laws in places like CA and NY.. do you guys also ignore laws in your own state?

Do you guys carry without permits? Own unregistered NFA items? Sell guns to known felons?

Afterall, such laws are unconstitutional right?

As a former California resident myself, I'm very much aware of how much of that state's gun laws are ignored. As a matter of fact, just between Roberti-Roos and SB-23, the number of unregistered black rifles alone out there would boggle the mind, and the DOJ out there will never have enough personnel or time to go after the owners. The estimates are in the tens of thousands, or more.

It was downright interesting, even at the range I worked at, former regulars simply didn't show up to shoot anymore, or bought bolt actions and single-shots. Our NRA High Power matches alone took a big hit.

I'm not advocating anybody break any laws here on The High Road. I am saying, however, that civil disobedience is very much alive and well out there. They wanted me to register all my SB-23 banned firearms. I told them to come get them - in Florida.

 

[thertel]

email me you home address, I've got a 10rd glock 17 mag you can have.

Thomas

 

[bruss01]

StrikeFire -

PM'd you with some ideas/info - jot me a note back please.

Thanks.

 

[Dan M.]

Move to a county that allows CCW.

http://californiaccw.org/forums/list.page

 

[Leanwolf]

Join the Calif. Rifle & Pistol Assoc.

www.crpa.org

L.W.

 

[50 Shooter]

What part of Cali are you moving to? Let us know and someone should be able to hook you up with a dealer to help you out with the paperwork.

 

[jnojr]

Join the Calif. Rifle & Pistol Assoc.

Make that your last priority.

CRPA doesn't do a whole heck of a lot. They print a lousy newsletter and have a crappy website, and that's about it. All the "action" that they take is riding on the NRAs coattails and trying to claim credit for themselves.

Join the NRA. Then join JPFO, GOA, CCRKBA/SAF. Then maybe Gun Owners of California.

 

[jnojr]

I'm moving to California for work in April

You'd better have one hell of a job! You'll need to make twice what you do in Texas if you live in any populated area in CA. Also, if you move to a populated area, no CCW for you, except maybe Orange County. Kern County is good, too, but a bit of a haul to LA. San Bernardino and Riverside counties are better than LA, SD, etc.

I just cannot see any real upside to moving here... higher taxes, much more Socialism, the people who run the state are all crazy... last year, we borrowed $43 billion in bonds, and now our brain-addled Governor (who sold us out after the Republican primaries) wants to borrow another $43 billion, and institute mandatory health insurance, along with the requisite tax hikes.

Property values are through the roof. The house that's about $250K in Texas is $600K here.

If your choice is move or lose your job, do yourself an enormousfavor and just find another job in Texas or somewhere else in the United States. You will hate it in California.

 

[hoji]

Truly.
You would need to make at least 3 times what you would in Texas to live at the same standard in California.

I wish you well.

 

[joe4702]

What jnojr said.

 

[461]

Best advice I can give is to buy a whole bunch of off list handguns to bring with you. Once you get here you'll be able to sell most any off list for about double. Perfectly legal and many folks here would be indebted to you for bringing inventory into the state.

 

[Ed Ames]

Cost of living varies all over the place in CA... just as views on firearms, availability of shooting areas, attainability of CCWs, etc vary all over the place. Anyone who makes a blanket statement about how ________ California is hasn't explored enough of California to comment.

I grew up in an area where $90K/household was just about breaking even. I then moved to an area where making $40K was considered good money and commuted to the area where I grew up. That allowed me to live really well all told. I could afford a sailboat boat in Marina Del Ray, a large house on a multi-acre lot, some really interesting cars, a decent retirement savings, and quite a few toys along the way.... all while my coworkers were leasing their cars, maxing out their credit, and only keeping their heads above water because their spouses worked too.

Now... I'm kinda in the opposite situation of the original poster. In fact, I'm leaving for Dallas tomorrow... my weekend plans include a 1500 mile drive towing a trailer... but the reality I see is that the cost of living in Dallas is about a wash compared to the cost of living where I live in CA... not 1/3rd, not even 30% less... maybe 5% less. And for that I lose access to free public shooting areas on BLM land, I lose having 200+ feet between my house and my nearest neighbor's, I lose state income tax but I gain PUNISHINGLY HIGH property taxes and higher sales taxes...... don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to being out from under some of the sillier CA gun laws (specifically not being able to buy handguns with my C&R), but from my financial perspective CA and TX are a wash. Now, maybe I'm just not seeing the whole picture and I'll eat my words three months from now, but I've spent a few months in the Dallas area over the years so I'm not speaking from complete ignorance.

 

[gunsmith]

bring as many hand guns as you can

kel tecs, high points, contenders, NAA mini's ...many of the guns that are not on the list are desperatly needed ...sell a few once in awhile to help pay for the trip.

The same hi piint you paid 100 for used will get 225 or so...easy.

bring some really cheap crappy guns that you pay 25 to 50 bucks for too.
When they have those police buybacks for 100 plus you'll make a killing...

I carried all the time in San Francisco with out a permit, most folks ignore the gun laws and most cops don't know what the laws are either.

tens of thousands of gun owners have given up trying to figure out CA law