bring ar-15 clone INTO california (or buy there?)

H

hologon

New member
I currently live in NJ; I have a good chance to move to CA permanently in the next few months on business.

Now, I'm not sure if I'm going from the frying pan into the fire, or vice-versa, but I'm interested in the AR-15 series of .223 rifles.

I've seen Bushmaster and Armalite clones around here in NJ (surprising, eh?) but I'm not sure if they're still available.

If they are, what's the current regulation on bringing these clones INTO california if you already own them?

Are they illegal to purchase in CA, even if you get rid of the horrid bayonet carrier and hi-cap mags?

Are they actually illegal to own as I've heard over the past year?

Do they force you to get rid of them if you already own one?

My goal? Plinking, target, and, although I would never admit it to a cop, home defense from rooftops (yes, I'm looking at a 12ga... right now, my only toy is a HK USP in 9mm.)

Thanks for your help!

-Jon
 
If you had a choice I would say move to Nevada or Arizona, you would be better off as far as the gun situation goes. I don't think you can bring anymore AR-15's along with a long list of other guns into California anymore, let alone even try to buy one here. The so called assult weapon future here looks pretty bad, and even if you could bring one in you may have it confiscated in a couple of years. But check out www.regagun.com for the facts. If you come out here you may also want to stop in some other states to pickup some magazines, because the largest you can get here is a 10 rounder.
Good luck.
Tony
Orange County, Calif.
 
*grin* Well, unfortunately, the 'Net i-builder industry that made me the scant bit of cash that I would be able to afford a long gun also only exists in NJ/NY and CA.

Thanks for the tip... I think I might have to start looking at regular hunting bolt-actions, then... and maybe a nice, PC wood-stock 12ga.

Thanks!

-Jon
 
Uh... Mozilla M18 has an odd habit of double tapping. Sorry.

-jon

[This message has been edited by hologon (edited October 05, 2000).]
 
One other note, the rummor around here is that they may try to ban the any bolt actions that are similar to sniper type rifle. I was told this by reputable gun shop out here when looking for a deer rifle. What type that may include I dont' know, maybe heavy barrels, cammo covered, ones that use NATO ammo or who knows what. There is also a 10 day wait on any gun out here, long or short gun.
Tony
 
If you are coming to the People's Republik of California, don't plan on bringing any of your guns with you. The PRK sucks. You may not import into the state any high capacity magazines. That means you can't bring your ten plus round magazines into the state. And since you are just moving here, you can't use the "I have had these for years" trick like I do.

Second, you can't import any centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine that has a flash suppresor, magazine lug, folding stock, or conspicous pistol grip. That means any of the AR clones. However, I have seen AR clones for sale in the PRK still, but with the pistol grip removed! How you shoot it, I don't know, but it is technically legal.

The sniper rifle thing is exagerated at this time. They won't be able to get away with that just yet, but it I imagine will be a long time goal of the PRK Politbureau.

So welcome to the PRK, leave all of your firearms at the border.
 
I'm glad I work in a field that has positions everywhere. I'd go back for retraining in another field before I'd move to one of the People's Republics of America.

------------------
Byron Quick
 
I have a different take. Bring any gun you want. Screw them. These are illegal laws (I have read the Constitution). When they try to take them, give them the bullets first. It may cost you your life. But, I can't think of a better way to leave the planet.

Dave
-deep in occuppied California.
 
actually, the law says semi-automatic centerfire rifle. so if you have a single shot AR it would be ok

ALso, there are modified grips that make it legal. but all resemble a grip thats been cut off
 
Hologon,

I believe you could legally bring an AR into California IF you owned it before the ban took effect (January 1, 2000). Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like that's the case, althought if you bought one from a private party without paperwork in some state where that is legal (are there any?), then I'm not sure how anyone could prove that you didn't own it before the ban.

Also, be aware that a new California handgun ban it taking effect at the end of this year. It will prohibit all Kel-tec pistols, for example, as well as most other semi-autos that do not have a "positive manual safety." I say "most" because apparently Glock obtained an exemption. And virtually all handguns will have to be tested except those with Curio and Relic status. If you want any handguns, I'd try to buy them before the end of the year.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating that you do anything illegal, and I'm not an expert on these laws. This is just my understanding.

Doug
 
Nope. The way I read the law, you must have had possession of the rifle in CA prior to Jan 01, 2000.

Since the 1989 Roberti-Roos act was declared constitutional, all AR's must be registered as "series" AW's, regardless of features. I don't know if they've opened up the books for the R-R act registration, but the window is either 60 or 90 days and they'd like for it to end the same time the SB23 registration period ends (01Jan01).

You can probably find some useful information, if you can keep from gagging, at: www.regagun.org
 
Well, SB-23 was and is a problem, but there is another wrinkle. The Kasler decision, which upheld the 1989 Roberti Roos Assault Weapons Act, gave the attorney general a bit of encouragement, and he decided that the original wording of the law means that ALL AR-15 "type" and AK-47 "type" guns fall under the "series" provisions of Roberti Roos (RR). This means that even those "stripped lowers" that everyone was selling after Jan 1, 2000 are now illegal to buy. This went into effect on August 17, and is the reason why all of the Saiga rifles dissapeared from gunshops around that time. Over at AR15.com, some are saying that due to RR, AR's and AK's no longer fall under SB-23, as they are now included in the RR law. This is (according to them) better if you own one now, but makes it impossible to get even a stripped lower now (at least legally).

I debated going to another state and doing a "Cash and Carry" sale for an AR, then bringing it back and regestering it, saying that I didn't remember the date or place of purchase, but I heard that they check the date of purchase against DROS records. This is doubtful, but entirely possible. It would be just like CA to "register" DROS transactions in order to track gun owners and the number of guns that they own. I really need to move to Arizona!

Good luck, but I don't think that rifle will be making that move with you, unless you break the law.
 
Ditto Spartacus. Hey, I have an idea, lets make the PRK the new nations capital. Gather all the politicians, anti-gunners, anti-hunters, lawyers, and insurance salesmen, then let the da** think float off into the ocean like it should have done before now. Of course, we'll have to rescue the few trapped citizens that have some value to the rest of us. :D

------------------
"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
CA law is designed to keep bad guns out of CA, so I don't know why anyone would think that they could legally bring an AR into the state.

If you want to know how the law reads then go to DOJ website and read the bill. This is usually a very confusing activity. Here is a link to their insult weaphttp://www.regagun.org/ons section:
 
Thanks to everyone for the great response -- Guess I'll have to look for a PC "hunting rifle"... something like a Scout-style setup might be just good.

I figure I'm not about to spray and pray, so a bolt-action should do just fine.

Hopefully they won't ban -those-.

Thanks again!

-Jon
 
Hologon,

If you'd like something a little closer to an AR, you might consider a Mini-14, Mini-30, M1A, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, or SKS with fixed magazine. These are all still legal in California. Also, if you plan to stay here, these would be good choices as they are probably next on someone's list to be banned. Nothing against a bolt rifle, but, unless we succeed in turning the tide, you might want to get a semi-auto while you still can.

Doug
 
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