Moving to CA... help

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KBintheSLC

KBintheSLC

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Hi Folks,

Sadly, I have to move to CA for work. Can I bring my handguns that are not on the roster? Particularly my KelTec P32. I know about the registration deal on handguns, and the mag capacity on my other guns.
 
You can bring any handguns that aren't on the roster, as long as they're not banned by CA's "assault weapons" laws.

You can bring a P32. Want to make some money? Bring other guns that aren't on the list, but are in demand, and sell them when you get there.

Sorry to hear you're moving there.
 
Thanks for the info... I too am sorry. The move will be no longer than 18-24 months, but it's still enough to depress me. I'm sad that I have to leave behind my black rifle and mod'ed 10/22. At least I have some family here so I can store them.
 
Why the 10/22?

Rimfires are exempt from all AW laws in CA, except for magazine capacity. Flash hiders, pistol grips, it's all good. I had a .22LR AR in CA. With a little part or two, you can probably have your EBRs also. Depends on the stamp on the lower.
 
I live in CA, and find www.calguns.net invaluable.

I agree with the post above about bringing and selling the non-roster pistols.

I have a handful of non-roster Colt .45's ... people are really jonesin' to get their hands on them, and others.

Good luck with the move.
 
Why the 10/22?

Rimfires are exempt from all AW laws in CA, except for magazine capacity. Flash hiders, pistol grips, it's all good.
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I actually have 2 of these, one is pretty much bone stock (with just a trigger job) and will come with me, the other has some mods such as threaded barrel/flash hider/pistol grip stock. It would cost me some money to make it compliant. So, I am just leaving it behind with my other so-called "assault weapons". Frankly, if I am limited to using 10-round mags, I prefer to just use my bolt-action Savage MKII rifle.

Luckily, this is more of a temporary assignment than a permanent relocation. I will have to survive the next 18 months with only my CA-friendly guns.
 
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the other has some mods such as threaded barrel/flash hider/pistol grip stock.
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No, those features are all 100% legal on a rimfire long gun in California. Like I said, I had an AR with a .22LR upper, threaded with a flash hider, everything on it standard-issue including the M4 stock, pistol grip, and magazine release button. It was all 100% legal in California.

I mean, you don't have to take it, but there's no reason not to.
 
I agree with the post above about bringing and selling the non-roster pistols.
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Since CA has banned FTF sales, can you put guns on consignment at the local FFL or something? Or do you just sell them to a dealer?
 
No, those features are all 100% legal on a rimfire long gun in California. Like I said, I had an AR with a .22LR upper, threaded with a flash hider, everything on it standard-issue including the M4 stock, pistol grip, and magazine release button. It was all 100% legal in California.

I mean, you don't have to take it, but there's no reason not to.
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So it looks like they make an exception for rimfire's in rifle/carbine format? Thats great news. I certainly don't want to leave anything behind if I don't have to.

Man, when I went to Monterey on orders, I left mine here.
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Funny... that's exactly where I am headed.
 
FTF sales are legal, you just have to bring the gun to a dealer and do the paperwork. The dealer then hangs onto the gun for 10 days, and releases it. Yes, this is stupid. You can lend a guy a gun for a month to try it out, but when he buys it from you it has to sit in the shop for 10 days. OIL IT UP AND PUT IT IN A SOFT CASE. Most shops don't give a crap what happens to your gun while they have it in custody. If it gets scratched up because they didn't want to bother moving it before dragging another gun across it, they don't care.

Last I did it, they charged $30 for it, but that might have changed -- but remember that CA residents are used to this.

Your ARs are probably legal as-is, also, if you use a special magazine button. I have a few lying around somewhere in case I want to go back there and bring an AR. They're relatively cheap.

There's a list of AR lower receivers that aren't legal, but most of them are old models. Similar models with slightly different names are legal. And yes, this is stupid, too, since all AR lowers are 100% compatible with each other, often they are from the same factory, and the only difference is the name stamped on them.

But stupid is what California does best. I didn't leave the place I was born because it had lousy weather or lacked natural beauty...
 
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Again, thanks for the info. So it looks like FTF through FFL is the way to go. As for my black rifle, I should specify that its an AK not an AR. Since every "assault weapon" qualifies as an AK in the liberal eye, it will likely have to stay here to avoid thorough butchery. I may however end up getting myself a Mini14 or a KelTec SU-something if I feel the need. But that will happen when I get there. For now, it will be a small hand full of pistols, a couple of rifles and a shotgun.
 
Again, thanks for the info. So it looks like FTF through FFL is the way to go. As for my black rifle, I should specify that its an AK not an AR. Since every "assault weapon" qualifies as an AK in the liberal eye, it will likely have to stay here to avoid thorough butchery. I may however end up getting myself a Mini14 or a KelTec SU-something if I feel the need. But that will happen when I get there. For now, it will be a small hand full of pistols, a couple of rifles and a shotgun.
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Lots of things you can do to get a replacement AR-type. See the Calguns Foundation Wiki, especially the article on off-list lowers.
 
First and foremost, I am so sorry that you have to move there!

Is there any chance that you can leave the firearms back where you currently reside with a trusted friend or relative? Otherwise, how about a climate controlled secure storage facility? Who knows, maybe you won't be in that State for too long.

Aside from just being dang good to have, firearms, even inexpensive ones tend to appreciate in value and it makes a lot of sense to keep them rather than disposing them in a fire sale.


KBintheSLC
Moving to CA... help
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If you already know you want a rifle, buy it now, in Utah. Don't buy it in California.

If you want an AR in California, buy a lower in Utah, not in California. Then order the other parts on-line, out of state, to save sales tax.

In California, you have to pay the FFL a minimum of 25 bucks as a "transfer fee" even if you buy a new gun from the store's shelves. Few Internet vendors will sell to California now, due to extra requirements for FFL transfers that are a PITA and cost the dealer precious time, and if they do sell to California, good luck finding a transfer dealer in coastal Nor Cal who won't screw you HARD for doing the transfer ($100 is not uncommon).

Then, you will pay between 8.25% and 9.25% sales tax in Monterey County, depending on the city where a store is located. Don't bother going outside the county; 8.25% is low for California and you can't do better (e.g. San Francisco is 9.5%).

Californians are so used to paying all these fees and taxes, they don't even think of it. But of course, they add up. It would be hard to pay as much for a gun in Utah, when you add it all up, as you will in California, even if the gun is "on sale".
 
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I have not seen this link posted yet, so here you go - it is the California Dept. of Justice Firearms homepage:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/

Here is the pertinent info from the FAQ's page:

I am moving into California and I own several handguns. What are the new-resident registration requirements?

You are considered to be a personal handgun importer as defined by California law. You may bring all of your otherwise California-legal firearms with you, but you must report all of your handguns to the DOJ within 60 days as required utilizing the New Resident Handgun Ownership Report. [PDF 518 kb / 2 pg] You are not required to report rifles or shotguns. You may not bring ammunition feeding devices with a capacity greater than ten rounds, machineguns, or assault weapons into California.

(PC sections 12001(n), 12072(f)(2))

More info:

Firearms Information for New California Residents
Handguns
Any person who moves into California and who brings any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person is considered to be a "Personal Handgun Importer" and is required to do one of the following within 60 days:

Complete and submit a NEW RESIDENT HANDGUN OWNERSHIP REPORT form along with $19.00 to the Department of Justice. A separate report form and $19.00 fee is required for each handgun reported. NEW RESIDENT HANDGUN OWNERSHIP REPORT forms can be obtained from California Department of Motor Vehicles' offices, licensed firearms dealers, local police and sheriff's departments, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms at (916) 263-4887, and from the Online Forms Page at this site.
Sell or transfer the handgun(s) to a California licensed firearms dealer or to another individual using a California licensed firearms dealer to conduct the transaction.
or

Sell or transfer the handgun(s) to a California police or sheriff's department. Persons choosing this option should contact the law enforcement agency for instructions prior to transporting the handgun(s) to the agency.
Any person transporting handguns in California is required under California law to transport those handguns unloaded and in a locked container other than the glove compartment or utility compartment of a vehicle.

And... here is the actual law in written form:

Sales, Loans, and Transfers of Firearms by Personal Handgun Importers
Any person who meets the definition of a personal handgun importer who moves into
California with the intention of establishing residency in this state, must report his or her ownership
of any handgun acquired outside California to the Department of Justice within 60 days.
A personal handgun importer means an individual who meets specific criteria, which
includes, but is not limited to, any person age 18 or older, who is not a licensed firearms dealer or
manufacturer, and who owns and intends to possess within this state on or after January 1, 1998, any
pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person that is not an assault
weapon or machinegun, as defined by law. (Penal Code § 12001(n).)
Personal handgun importers shall report handgun ownership by choosing one of the
following options:
• Forward by prepaid mail or deliver in person to the Department of Justice, a report
prescribed by the department. Forms are available from the Department of Justice,
firearms dealers, law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Motor Vehicles;
• Sell or transfer the firearm in accordance with the provisions of Penal Code section
California Firearms Laws 2007 40
12072(d);
• Sell or transfer the firearm to a dealer licensed pursuant to Penal Code Section
12071;
• Sell or transfer the firearm to a sheriff or police department. (If this option is chosen,
individuals should notify the agency in advance that they intend to transport the handgun to that
agency, and it should be transported unloaded and in a locked container). (Penal Code
§§ 12026.2 (a)(18), 12072(f)(2)(A).)

And, lastly, a phone number to call, which I would recommend you do to make sure that your specific firearms are indeed legal to bring into our wonderful State:

General Information
Phone: (916) 263-4887
 
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