Why are MOST guns in California more expensive than anywhere else?

[ocabj]

Here's the prices I saw today for a SA M1A Standard. $1359. ***... why soo damn expensive!

The M1A Loaded was $1500!

Walk in shop, fondle, walk out shop pissed because of price.

MSRP for the Standard and Loaded are $1486-1586 and $1639-$1830, respectively.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-m1a-stan.shtml
http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-loaded.shtml

I don't know what it's like everywhere else.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

LA

I bought more then a few handguns before the end of 2002 because I originally refused to buy anything under the new law.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that that's exactly what they want. Yesterday I went out and bought a CZ 75. Turners had them for $399 (not a bad price for any part of the US). Now that I have the safety card, I'm going to buy more guns this year. Piss on the state. Bullseye Sporting Goods in Long Beach always has some nice consignment handguns. PPT's don't fall under the "1 gun a month".

Jeff

 

[Pilgrim]

I left the PDRK the end of March. I don't expect to go back except to visit some family for the Christmas holiday.

Pilgrim

 

[jimbo]

odysseus,

The process to get a HSC is a simple one and not particularly expensive. I simply made a political decision not to comply with the creeping socialism toward total gun control occuring in California under the Davis administration.

The BFSC was supposed to be for life. They lied. I don't mind the safety test -- that's a good thing. But now you have to have a renewable HSC for a modest fee. It expires every few years. In a short while, the fee will no longer be so modest, and will rise incrementally until it becomes draconian.

You have to give your fingerprints as if you are a criminal. You can only buy one handgun per month. Soon you will need a license to buy handguns such as has been imposed in other states, where you can only purchase so many handguns per license.

This wretched tyranny motivated me to drop out of the entire process. It is a no win situation. I had to choose either to lose the ability to purchase more handguns and support gun stores by doing so. Or lose additional rights and freedoms by allowing the State to treat me like a criminal who must be controlled and monitored.

So my support of local gun stores goes strictly to long guns rather than handguns. Since then I have bought a nice Remington Mountain rifle and a Sauer 202 in .243. The next on my list will be a Kimber 84 in 7mm-08 or .260.

I will not ever again buy another handgun while subject to the Imperial Socialist Dictatorship of Californias handgun laws. Period.

The State of California is an evil entity. I'll be leaving when I reasonably can and take my tax dollars with me. I can't wait.

 

[rayra]

The dealers take advantage of this and prices on consignment guns can be out of control. Some shops flat out refuse to do PPT's. Others charge as high as $80!

I am almost CERTAIN that there is specific CA state law that says they CANNOT refuse to conduct a PPT, AND that sets a reasonable price limitation.
I'll see if I can find it (again).

 

[rayra]

Here. Straight from the horse's mouth -


http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dlrfaqs.htm#18

18. What fees can I charge for handling a Private Party Transfer (PPT)?
If the transaction is a PPT, you are restricted to charging no more than $20.00 in State fees described and $10.00 per firearm for conducting the PPT. For example:
a. For a PPT involving one or more handguns, the total allowable fees are $30.00 for the first handgun, and $26 for each subsequent handgun.
b. For PPTs involving one or more long guns, the State fees are limited to $20.00 for the whole transaction plus $10.00 dealer fee per firearm transferred.

(PC section 12082)


and from the same Dealer FAQ page -

40. May I charge sales tax on the DROS fees?
No. On January 1, 1999, the state Board of Equalization ruled that the DROS fees are not subject to retail sales tax. Firearms dealers licensed pursuant to Penal Code section 12071 shall not charge sales tax on the DROS fees. Questions regarding firearms transfer fees can be directed to the DOJ through this website or by calling (916) 263-4887. Questions regarding sales tax can be made to the California Board of Equalization at its website www.boe.ca.gov.


I might be mistaken, but it sure reads to me like a cap of $30 - anyone getting charged $80 is getting ROBBED.

 

[sm]

Why are MOST guns in California more expensive...

I just figured it was payola for them to drop your gun to see if it could be sold in CA to generate more payola...

I could be wrong tho'

I was also told Politicans have deeper pockets that require more money to keep them filled so they look good on TV. Is this true?

 

[Valkman]

In my experience guns weren't more expensive in Northern CA, especially if you waited for sales. I bought my Norinco 1911 for $299 and my SA Mil-Spec for $399 last July. There's alot of gun shops in the Sacramento area plus gun shows to go to, so maybe that's why.

Edited to add: Thank GOD I don't live there anymore! 48 years was enough, and now I get to experience walking into a gunshop and actually leaving with a gun right then!