Illegal Gun Color in California?

[LHS]

Was at the range yesterday (Ohio), and a worker was on the phone, and told the owner (FFL holder) that the guy bought a gun there while here for Christmas. Seems when he tried to take it home in CA the gun is legal but the COLOR is not!

Any idea what he was talking about?
(I did not hear what the gun itself was though.)

 

[JcMack]

Maybe because a particular finish or finish combo doesn't appear on California's O.K. list?

D.C. readies for another gun fight - wtop.com

 

[rondo]

I know of one example

Wilson Combat makes some pretty nice 1911s. Back when they submitted handguns for CA approval, some models were two-tone in color (black slides and OD frames).

To this day, if you live in CA and want a WC CQB (one of those models) it only comes in black over OD. If you want another color, you can send it back for refinishing after you receive it, but it has to come from the factory black over OD. No exceptions.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

The drop tests to get guns in here have to be done with every handgun with every different feature. A
4" gun can be tested, but if they come out with a new version identical but with a 4 1/32" longer barrel it must have it's own test. It wouldn't surprise me if there's restrictions on color, too. It just comes down to whatever they can think of next.

 

[snub56]

It may be regulations against some of the colorful guns that are sold that can in their opinion be mistaken for toy guns.

 

[26Ford]

Give them another year, and handguns in California will need a catalytic converter for the emmisions from the muzzle flash

 

[blujax01]

My Brother moved to Cali in the 80's. He used to get furious with the attitude most exhibited and often said that: "these people think that when the San Andreas Fault lets go, the rest of the country will fall into the ocean and California will be left standing!"

He's gone almost four years now. I do miss him ...

 

[wbraswell]

You reckon pink guns are illegal in CA.?

 

[Kelly Green]

I have a cousin who lives in CA. I emailed him about a color ban and this is his reply.

Green or orange guns are banned in California.

CA Penal Code:12020.3. Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufacturers, ships, transports, distributes, orreceives a firearm, where the coloration of the entire exterior surface of the firearm is bright orange or bright green, either singly, in combination, or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, is liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney of the city or the district attorney for the county of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

They want to eliminate any gun that can be mistaken as a toy. This may also be an attempt to discourage camouflaged guns?

 

[deadin]

I was in the local Cabela's just before Xmas. The counter guy was warning a customer that was looking at a PMR30 that if he was planning to take it to California to buy only a black one. Seems that the black was the only one tested, so the green one's weren't "on the list".

 

[LHS]

Thanks for these answers! I quess living in Ohio has kept me from these gun rules from our friends out west!

 

[cjw3]

I have a cousin who lives in CA. I emailed him about a color ban and this is his reply.

Green or orange guns are banned in California.

CA Penal Code:12020.3. Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufacturers, ships, transports, distributes, orreceives a firearm, where the coloration of the entire exterior surface of the firearm is bright orange or bright green, either singly, in combination, or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, is liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney of the city or the district attorney for the county of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

They want to eliminate any gun that can be mistaken as a toy. This may also be an attempt to discourage camouflaged guns?

I have a hard time understanding how you can legislate against a color, but apparently they are not the only ones:

From NYC:

Ban on Gun Coloration Kits

The legislative package includes a ban on the use and sale of gun coloration kits, which are used to paint guns in "toy-like" colors. Gun coloration kits are currently available for purchase over the Internet and through gun dealers. These kits are designed to color guns in a number of bright fluorescent shades, making them easily mistakable for toy guns - with potentially deadly consequences for police officers and New Yorkers. This legislation would make it illegal to color real guns to mimic toys. In 1999, the City Council passed a law requiring all toy guns to be certain pastel or fluorescent colors so that children would be prevented from mistaking a toy gun for a real one and so that Police Officers could also make that quick distinction. The availability and use of these gun coloration kits directly contradicts current law and this proposed legislation would directly address that.

 

[rags]

I have a cousin who lives in CA. I emailed him about a color ban and this is his reply.

Green or orange guns are banned in California.

CA Penal Code:12020.3. Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufacturers, ships, transports, distributes, orreceives a firearm, where the coloration of the entire exterior surface of the firearm is bright orange or bright green, either singly, in combination, or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, is liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney of the city or the district attorney for the county of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

They want to eliminate any gun that can be mistaken as a toy. This may also be an attempt to discourage camouflaged guns?

Duhhh! You can't SEE Camo guns!

rags

 

[jkc]

Any California prohibition of rainbow colored weapons, San Francisco exceptions, etc.???

 

[Duke426]

Born and raised in San Diego. Moved away 19 years ago. I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would still live anywhere in CA. The weather is nice but it ain't nice enough to put up with the stupidity.

 

[Road Rat]

Quote: In California, the toy gun law stipulates that manufacturers must put an orange ring around the barrel to distinguish shiny toy guns from real weapons. Unquote

There have been many cases in all states where teens playing in and around schools, parks, etc., have pointed toy guns at police officers - in jest - and have been rewarded with real bullets!!

Federal law also states that airsoft (whatever those are) must have a 6mm orange muzzle.

So, based in that I can see where any real gun with orange on it would be banned. Especially in the Peoples DemonKratiK RepubliK of KaliforniaStan........

 

[bennettfam]

I have seen pink guns here (no, really) so I don't think they are outlawed, yet. My town is the birthplace of Girls With Guns, a small shooting sports company. Pink guns are big with the gals.

 

[JustAnotherGunGuy]

As it was stated before, if it is not on the approved list you can't buy it. You may own one and bring it if you move to California as I did. If the black one passes the TEST you can buy it. It cost money to make the firearm "California safe" so companies don't build thm all to California specs(mag saftey, loaded chamber indicator, etc....). Has nothing to do with the "color" of the firearm. I they were all supplied for testing and passed, they would all be legal.

 

[giddyupsut]

Color blind

If the California testers were color blind then they would all just be shades of gray.:

 

[jkc]

That there should be such screwball statutes passed by an Assembly installed by a "breakfast cereal" electorate should come as no surprise to anyone who's paid any attention to California's gun, and other, legislation. I believe Wyatt has correctly explained the issue...