Okay kids, gather around with your barf bags and Uncle Bill will e'splain the wacky world of Kalifornia gun laws (as best he can).
Kalifornia decided that handguns needed certain special features because the courts wouldn't let them blame gun manufacturers for people getting killed with their products by gang-bangers, drug dealers, psychotic and suicidal nutjobs and so on. Special features such as those that will prevent a gun firing when dropped and a "loaded chamber indicator". Next year they will require magazine disconnectors on all semi-autos.
So they enacted a law that says guns must be tested (for a price) by a state certified lab. The guns are tested (usually 3 of each model type are destroyed or damaged in the process) and if they pass, they get on a roster of "approved" handguns. You can see this list at:
http://justice.doj.ca.gov/safeguns/safeguns.asp.
The law requires the
manufacturer (or importer) to submit the gun for testing and no one else. Used guns you see, like the Ruger Security Six, are out of production and thus not submitted by Ruger and thus not on the list. Nor will the state permit a wholesaler to submit a high quality gun for testing even if he has plenty of them. Thus, if you want the original Colt Series 70 Government model, you're restricted to buying one already in-state.
If you look at the list, they will show models like the S&W Model 10-14 with a 4" barrel. However, if I went online and wanted a S&W Model 10-13 shipped to my FFL it's no-go because it's not on the list. The crazy part is that each gun has an expiration date. Thus, the 10-14 expires 4/11/07, which means I can't ship one into CA after that date if S&W doesn't send 3 more guns to California to kick around ...er... test and pay the state's extor..er.. fee.
It gets better. Substantial changes to the gun require submitting that type for evaluation. For example, let's suppose that S&W suddenly decides to offer the Model 620 4" .357 Mag with either adjustable sights or new S&W Night-Sights. California will call the Night-Sight gun a "substantially different model" that requires submitting 3 new guns for testing (plus the fees).
At one time, California said simply changing the finish was sufficient to require retesting -- such as offering a Model 29 with a nickel finish! We're past that now, thankfully. But change the barrel length, diameter, the hammer or trigger design or material, change the shape of the grip (at one time the state wanted to claim a rubber gripped gun was different than a wood-stocked gun) and it's time to re-evaluate.
Essentially what California is doing is running a "protection racket" by making the manufacturers pay a hefty fee PER MODEL tested and requiring submitting 3 specimens for destructive testing.
The purpose was to "weed out" the guns that big-money liberals didn't like -- the ones inexpensive enough for the poor to own. The Lorcins, Ravens, and Jennings pistols. Oddly enough, all of these guns did pass the tests initially and were certified (but have gone out of business for other reasons). Strangely enough Feinstein, Pelosi, Boxer, Waxman and other liberal ant-gun types were silent about that.
There's no reason a revolver certified today should not be available for purchase into the future -- unless some new restriction applies (such as some idiotic requirement like a thumbprint scanner & GPS attachment). Likewise for a semi-auto pistol that meets the current requirement to have a loaded chamber indicator and/or magazine disconnect. But if your desired gun "expires" on the list without being renewed, you cannot buy a new one until the manufacturer decides to spend the bucks to recertify.
One Gun-A-Month (sort of)
California enacted a law limiting the number of new guns you can buy in any 30 day period to one. Thus, if gang-bangers are threatening you and your wife, each of you has to purchase a gun in order to get two.
Fortunately, this applies only to new guns or guns resold by the store as a used gun. If the gun you want is offered as a "consignment" gun, you can buy several at a time. Most of the guns I've acquired in the last year have been consignment guns. You can purchase 1 new gun OR one used "dealer" gun and then go right ahead and purchase one or more consignment guns, if you have the money.
The result is that certain types of guns are going up in value out of proportion to their true worth. I've seen a Model 28 4" in good condition but covered in rust freckles that was selling for $369. A pristine 3" Model 65 was sold for $599. On almost any truly desireable used gun, look at the blue-book for the proper condition and add between $50 to $150 to get the CA retail price and expect the dealer to say "When do you think you'll see another one of these in California...." as he grins.
Fees, More Fees & Taxes
Did I mention the $30-$35 additional fee for processing your purchase through California's own background check system? Or that you have to wait 10 days (actually 240 hours). Or that you need to not only provide your ID, but a state "safety certificate" ($25 for a 5-year card) AND a "proof of residence" document that matches the address you put on the 4473 form? (Secondary ID may be any utility bill, vehicle registration or tenancy lease.)
Once you pick up your gun, you need to be instructed on how to load/unload it and then demonstrate it. The clerk doing it has to be "certified" by the state ($$) and you have to do it right. On top of all of this, you then need to show proof of purchase of a state-certified gun safe/cabinet or other security container -- OR -- you get to buy a state-approved gun lock (usually a cable or trigger lock) for about $10-$15.
Welcome to Kalifornia Komrade. To purchase your first gun in this state, you have to add to the price of your firearm the following;
State Sales Tax - 8%
Local taxes (if any) - 0.25% (where I live that's 8.25%!)
DROS Fee - $35 (Dealer Record of Sale-CA's background check/registration)
Handgun card - $25
Gun Lock/device - $15 (if you don't have a safe or security cabinet)
Thus, you get to pay $75 plus TAXES.
A $350 gun, plus tax of $28.88, $35 DROS, $25 Handgun "safety" card, plus $16.30 for the lock (tax included) give you a bill for $455.18!
The second gun you buy will be $25 cheaper (gun card) and maybe you'll save $15 on the gun lock if you have an approved storage device. I've sold back several gun locks to my local dealer (unopened) for $5 each after getting an approved safe.
That's all for tonight kids. Please take your barf bags outside and deposit them in the cardboard box. Yes, that's right, the one marked
Attn: California Attorney General.
Thank you and good night.
