California???

[gunrunner1]

Can someone explain to me the laws in California? Are you not allowed to own a handgun period or what? I recently acquired a very nice .44 mag that belonged to a N.Carolina officer who was killed. This gun was going to be is retirement gift. After he died, they gave it to his daughter and inscribed the box with the date and tp"my beloved daughter". In 1982 she moved to california and sold the gun to a friend on the condition that he would let her know before he sold it. A week ago, he got permission to sell it to me. I was told that she does not plan to leave california and it was up for grabs. So to make a short story long, why could she not bring it with her??

 

[john traveler]

California gun laws do not have to make sense to anyone.

The fact that he original owner sold the gun in OH and then became a California resident is what is at issue here. She could no long import the gun into California as the owner. In this example, she would not be able to legally bring it into any other state as the owner either.

 

[DCWilson]

In 1982 she would have had no trouble bringing that gun into California with her. If she chose not to, that was her decision.

How old is the gun? If it was manufactured before 1962 it is a curio and relic and can be imported into California today. I bring C&R guns into this state several times a year.

I am sick and tired of hearing drivel about how California is a communist state that prevents its citizens from owning firearms. This is one of the biggest gun-owning states in the nation with a huge volume of sales and transfers on a daily basis. Like a lot of other states, it has laws that can make buyers or importers jump through an extra hoop for some models; a very few models are on a prohibited list and other models are not easily importable unless they are on an opt-in list that manufacturers have the power to list their models on. You have been victimized by the hate-California industry that would collapse overnight if the people who perpetrate this guff would expend as much energy on research as they do on exercising their vocal chords.

I have never -- repeat, NEVER -- been blocked from owning a particular model that I wanted to buy, though on one occasion three years ago I could not take delivery of a specific recent revolver because of its out-of-state origin. I would have had no problem acquiring the gun if it had already been in the state when it was consigned to auction. In the grand scheme of things, that was no more than an annoyance.

OK, rant off.

 

[wuluf]

Thank you mister wilson. I enjoy pointing out to people that not only do i own several revolvers, semi-autos and a rifle or two, i even (in California's Capitol city!) have a permit to carry concealed. It's not perfect but it's not nearly as bad here as some would have you believe...

 

[gunrunner1]

so....my question is what law *would* block her,,if any?

 

[jag312]

There isn't any.

 

[DCWilson]

If the gun can NOT be classified as a curio and relic, it could be imported into California only if its specific model is listed on the DOJ's list of firearms certified for sale in California. That list is available on the CA DOJ website.

If the specific model is not on the roster, then an exemption provision would allow a Law Enforcement professional to import the gun for personal use. Once the gun is in CA, however, it could be sold in a face-to-face transfer between the importing LEO and a CA resident. After that initial transfer, it could be sold in a private party transfer between any two California residents.

So based on what little I know, nothing actually blocks the woman from importing the gun, but she might have to go the long way around the barn to get it in legally.

 

[jag312]

Let me try to make this simple; a private individual moving to California to become a resident can bring in any firearms except a machinegun, silencer, some short barreled rifles and some short barreled shotguns, or California-designated Assault Weapons. You can bring in a short barreled rifle or short barreled shotgun providing it is classified as a curio & relic. You can bring in an Any Other Weapon, except for a pen gun. You can bring in a Destructive Device, but only after you get a California Destructive Device permit as a bona fide collector. Antiques and muzzle loading firearms are okay.

The California Safe Handgun List is only for double action revolvers and semiauto pistols. Single action revovlers are exempt. Dealers can only bring in and sell only double action revolvers and semiauto pistols on the list plus any that are more than 50 years old. Private transactions (person to person) are exempt, but they have to go through a dealer for the state paper work.

Some California laws are difficult to understand, but my suggestion is to get a couple bottles of Absinthe. After you finish the two bottles and destroy sufficient brain cells, then everything will make sense.

 

[DCWilson]

Jag312, thank you. That's much more on point than my superficial response.

 

[rbmac52]

I get tired of Californians trying to defend their gun laws. I was born and raised in California and worked my entire professional career there and what has happened over the years in the area of firearms law is a tragedy. There is no way to put a good spin on it, no matter how hard you try. In fact it seems ridiculous to even try. These restrictive laws are one of the main reasons I picked up and left my home state for good two weeks after I retired.

 

[longranger]

I have never -- repeat, NEVER -- been blocked from owning a particular model that I wanted to buy, though on one occasion three years ago I could not take delivery of a specific recent revolver because of its out-of-state origin. I would have had no problem acquiring the gun if it had already been in the state when it was consigned to auction. In the grand scheme of things, that was no more than an annoyance

.
You miss out on the best revolvers ever made unless you find one in CA. for a outrageous prices,glad your comfortable with tyranny.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

I get tired of Californians trying to defend their gun laws.

I don't see anyone here really defending the laws, just clarifying internet FUD. All I pretty much ever see from people on the interwebs is "OMG DONT MOVE TO KOMMIEFORNIA THEY TAKES ALL YOUR GUNZ blah blah blah" Yes our guns laws are restrictive, and we too hate it just as much as the next person, but there's nothing stopping people from bringing the vast majority of their firearms with no problems, except for what was stated above about being classified as evil assault weapons, which I absolutely hate. But, we do still have ways of getting off list guns into the state legally too, but it can be a PITA.

I find I have more problems with lgs grossly inflating prices for generic CA legal guns (as if having the state elbow deep isn't enough) along with out of state people I want to purchase from giving the response to F off cause I live in CA and how they hate CA......

Even today handguns can be passed down direct blood lines(grandparents to grandchildren, parents to children) too regardless of their status on the handgun roster.... provided no threaded barrels cause that makes it an assault weapon

But since it was sold and now resides in another state that changes things. It can be brought in using the single action exemption by removing the DA sear.....

Like I said before it's not so much we can't, it's the spread of FUD. Pretty soon the state will implode anyway from the giant vacuum created by spending money it doesn't have so it doesnt matter anyway

 

[jtpur]

Here is the real point. No one should have to jump through hoops to own their chosen firearm. California by definition is very restrictive. Overy regulated. I watch some TV shows with Law Enforcement folks in California and they act like a capital offense is comitted if a hunter has a loaded weapon on a "roadway" even if that roadway is in the mountains and is 2 feet wide and accessible only by off road vehicle. They treat their citizens with utter contempt if they find a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Other states specifically allow this type of vehicle carry. Ok California does not but then, the cops dont have to act like your a low life felon if while on a hunting trip you happen to have a loaded firearm in a vehicle, even if its in the bed of your pick up and your in the drivers seat. Ludicris!!!!!!

 

[spaniel]

The fact that a magazine must be detachable only with a tool is enough for me.

If the laws are so hard to understand, that's a sign that they are, in fact, extremely restrictive and having their desired effect of discouraging gun ownership. Nothing scares people from an action (like trying to own a gun) like hard-to-understand rules/laws/regulations that make them fear that innocent activity will land them in prison.

When my uncle moved BACK to California circa 20 years ago...he had lived there for many years before he left for ~5 years...he left many guns with my grandfather because he could not take them back to Cal, or believed that he could not. These were not scary black guns, I think the most offensive on the list was a Browning A5. Whether he was correct or not about being able to take them back there, the mere fact that he thought he could not was a victory for the establishment there.

 

[brucev]

"...she might have to go the long way around the barn to get it in legally." This is entirely the problem. Under kalifornia law, a individual is restricted from using their property contrary to the COTUS.

 

[gunrunner1]

THanks everyone for the clarification. She was probably intimidated by the rules and that's why she blamed it on that.

 

[mkk41]

This is one of the biggest gun-owning states in the nation with a huge volume of sales and transfers on a daily basis.

OK, rant off.

Then how do these stupid laws keep getting passed?

How come these moronic lawmakers who vote in favor of these stupid regs keep getting elected?

They march and protest for the silliest things at the whim of any Hollywood type , but let their basic rights slip away in the name of fashion and political correctness.
But ya never hear of any pro-gun activity!

Whenever they try to pass any anti-gun nonsense here in PA , the lawmakers get flooded with calls , letters , e-mails , etc. The Capitol , Harrisburg , gets shut down. The streets are gridlocked with pick-ups and SUVs with NRA bumper stickers. The steps of the Capitol building is a sea of camo and flannel shirts and orange hunting and black NRA hats.

And they KNOW we don't forget during election time.

 

[onemanwolfpack]

Then how do these stupid laws keep getting passed?

How come these moronic lawmakers who vote in favor of these stupid regs keep getting elected?

They march and protest for the silliest things at the whim of any Hollywood type , but let their basic rights slip away in the name of fashion and political correctness.
But ya never hear of any pro-gun activity!

Whenever they try to pass any anti-gun nonsense here in PA , the lawmakers get flooded with calls , letters , e-mails , etc. The Capitol , Harrisburg , gets shut down. The streets are gridlocked with pick-ups and SUVs with NRA bumper stickers. The steps of the Capitol building is a sea of camo and flannel shirts and orange hunting and black NRA hats.

And they KNOW we don't forget during election time.

Sadly we are outnumbered...and the law makers know it. The Capital is up to 8 hours away by car for many. It is a large state. We do flood them with calls, email, letters, etc however the other side does the same and at a much higher rate. The highly populated metro areas (SF, LA, SD) are mostly anti whereas the rual, farming, forest, desert areas are regular folk.

As far as importing off roster pistols/revolvers it is quite simple to find an exemption for legal import from other states. It really isn't a big deal.

-wolf

 

[auburn2]

I have never -- repeat, NEVER -- been blocked from owning a particular model that I wanted to buy, though on one occasion three years ago I could not take delivery of a specific recent revolver because of its out-of-state origin. I would have had no problem acquiring the gun if it had already been in the state when it was consigned to auction. In the grand scheme of things, that was no more than an annoyance.

OK, rant off.

That is only because you apparantly don't want to buy a short barrelled rifle, a silencer, a Barrett .50, or even a common AR-15 with a pistol grip and 30 round magazine.

As a point of fact citizens can not legally own many modern firearms in California. In the grand scheme of things denying people the right to own these basic weapons is a big deal in my opinion.

 

[mkk41]

They pass all those laws to restrict law-abiding citizens , yet fail to prosecute or punish those who use firearms in crimes. Or plea bargain away the most serious offenses , and the minimum mandatory sentences.

One thing that always ticks me off is seeing actors who have had brushes with the law , and are legally prohibited from even posessing firearms , making another shoot-em up movie.