buying a gun in Cali

M

MarkSteveND

New member
Hello people,

I've just moved to the state of California not too long ago from the Commonwealth of Virginia, where buying a gun is as easy as buying groceries. Here in CA, I feel like I can't even look at guns. But anyways, I'm interested in picking up another one of them toys. I'm thinking the quickly becoming obsolete H&K P7M8. What's the process here in CA in acquiring a gun? I was told I need to take some safety class and some tests. Is that right? Please shed some light. thanks for your help.
 
The Military and Police can buy a gun without proof of showing a safety class. Not to hi-jack the thread, but why did you move to Kali?
 
You also realize (I hope) that if you own any handguns, and recently moved to CA, they consider you a "Handgun Importer" and have 60 days to register EACH handgun for a fee fo $19.00 each! Isn't that wonderful :barf: ?

I wouldn't move to California under any circumstances. State Government in California resembles a large mental institution :eek:

As they say, read it and weep! http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/ab991.htm
 
The guy asks a few simple fair questions and gets "why in the heck did you move to Calif.:barf: :barf:


To give a straight answer, you only need to pass the handgun safety test, pay the 25.00 fee and then you can purchase. You don't need to take a class, only pass the test. You can take it right there at the dealers counter.
I believe that you only have to retake the test every few years.

Once you purchase, you then have the ten day waiting period. or maybe it's two weeks, been a while since I purchased a handgun..

You can buy any gun at the dealer, New guns on the approved list, or guns that were here before the DOJ list. If you buy a gun that is not on the current DOJ approved list, you must have both parties in person at the transfer dealer. If you purchase a gun that is from out of state, that IS on the approve list, it goes as a dealer to dealer sale, then from your dealer to you. In other words, the seller to his dealer, his dealer to your dealer and the your dealer to you. At least that's how my dealer expained an out of state sale. I also was told that single actions, though not on the list are exempt. I could not find the particular model vaquero on the DOJ list, but the dealer said no problem. I did try to buy a Kahr M9093 (mk9) box and although the standard SS m9093 was on the list, the matt slide M9093box was not, so I could not purchase it. I even was told this by the Kahr factory.

California in general does not have a registration. The transfer of ownership is the trail. Of course, you cannot carry concealed without a CCW. Not impossible in rural areas, but not likely in big cities. You will need to take a class for the CCW. 16 hours.

I do not believe there is a test for purchasing rifles, although I might be wrong on that, and rifles now have the same waiting period as handguns. and there is a limit to the amount of handguns that you can purchase in a thirty day period.

Someone more knowledgable than me can fill in where I'm wrong, but that's the jest of it as far as I know. The laws keep changing all the time, so it's difficult for the average person to know what's right and what's wrong. : :cool:
 
HighValleyRanch----

It would appear that you are describing rules for current residents. How about this:



New California Residents



If you are a new California resident and you own a handgun, you must report it or dispose of it within 60 days.

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 Firearms Division 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.

Please be aware that failure to comply with these mandated handgun requirements could result in criminal prosecution (Penal Code Section 12072(g)).


It would appear that current residents may not have to register currently owned concealable weapons but any NEW resident is going to get nicked $19.00 and have to register all concealable weapons. Sounds like registration to me (for all new residents anyway). I too am open to explaination or clarification. I may not be reading this correctly.
 
I'm thinking he was answering the man's question, actually. Which was:

But anyways, I'm interested in picking up another one of them toys. I'm thinking the quickly becoming obsolete H&K P7M8. What's the process here in CA in acquiring a gun? I was told I need to take some safety class and some tests. Is that right? Please shed some light. thanks for your help.


1) Contact a local dealer, most of them can give the handgun safety test. It's a 30 question if you don't pass you shouldn't be allowed in public anyway kind of a test.

2) Buy an approved handgun, the dealer or an FFL can help you (or look on the DOJ website)

3) Wait 10 days.

4) Enjoy.

5) Buy another in 30 days.
 
Yeah,
you are right, that if the new resident comes in with firearms, he will have to "register" them.

but I believe the original poster was asking:
he moved here and is going to purchase a firearm now while a resident.
You probably need to have resided here for some short term or proof of move to purchase AS a resident.
therefore any more firearems that he purchases will not have to be registered.
 
In CA, you have to take a 30 simple common sense test in order to get your Handgun Saftey Card(HSC). After you have that you buy your handgun. In order to buy your handgun you can't be a felon or be under a restraining order. You can't purchase a handgun if you ever were in a mental institution or are mentaly ill. Then you can purchase a handgun. After you pay for the handgun, taxes, DROS, etc. You then have to wait ten days. After the ten days you have to perform a saftey test which includes saftey loading and unloading the firearm w/ snap caps. And you can only purchase a new handgun every thirty days but this does not apply to private party transfers.

For rifles and shotguns there is no limit as to how many you can own but there is a ten day waiting period for each purchase.
 
After the ten days you have to perform a saftey test which includes saftey loading and unloading the firearm w/ snap caps
Click to expand...

I've never had to do this. Is this something new, does the dealer test you. I never heard this one before. Not that I couldn't pass it or anything :)
A friend of mine who is a newbie just purchase a Glock and didn't have to do this. This was less than a month ago.
 
The best way to get around the 1 per 30 days is to hit consignments, C&R's, and PPT's. My best is 3 pistols in as many weeks. You're only limited by your wallet size. :D

Now that I have my C&R, I plan to hit the Vegas and Phoenix shops when I go on business trips. I can bring them home, pay my $19 fee, and no worries.
 
Might have been mentioned above, but you will need to have current and valid California ID and "proof of residency/address" as well. I do not think they will accept your VA D/L or other out-of-state ID.

If you are moving to Los Antigungeles, give up any hope of a CCW permit.

Other than that, as a newbie gun owner I was surprised at how simple the process actually is.
 
GunsNRovers

What's a C&R?
Can you buy a gun that is not on the approved list out of state in Las Vegas or NV and then bring it in by Paying the 19.00 and registering it?
I didn't know you could.

I don't know why they moved this to legal and political. It has to do with purchasing a handgun. It should have been left in the handgun forum.
 
by HighValleyRanch

You can buy any gun at the dealer, New guns on the approved list, or guns that were here before the DOJ list. If you buy a gun that is not on the current DOJ approved list, you must have both parties in person at the transfer dealer. If you purchase a gun that is from out of state, that IS on the approve list, it goes as a dealer to dealer sale, then from your dealer to you. In other words, the seller to his dealer, his dealer to your dealer and the your dealer to you. At least that's how my dealer expained an out of state sale.
Click to expand...


California does not require that the firearm be shipped from a dealer although some dealers have that as a policy. California law specifically allows a California dealer to accept firearms transfers from an unlicensed out of state resident. [Penal Code § 12070(b)(14)]
 
California does not require that the firearm be shipped from a dealer although some dealers have that as a policy. California law specifically allows a California dealer to accept firearms transfers from an unlicensed out of state resident. [Penal Code § 12070(b)(14)]
Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction. it still must go from out of state seller to dealer and the dealer has to be able to sell it as retail. Therefore the firearm must be on the approved list.
 
Maybe there is a hidden agenda in California. Rather than get guns out of private ownership, they want to be like DC, NY, etc. where everyone has guns (well almost). They just want it to be illegal possession.
 
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