Who was it that PCS'd to California recently?

[GatorFarmer]

I remember a thread not too long back, that for some reason I can't find, where someone moved to California when they received new orders and what they had to go through to bring in their firearms. I was wondering if someone could refresh my memory about what the process was and what the situation was in regards to someone in the military not being considered a "resident"? I vaguely recall that advice was that hi cap mags could be retained, but had to be stored unassembled for the duration of the time in Cali? Did all handguns still need to registered?

 

[JayCeeNC]

I believe it was mtb1bkr.

 

[mtb1bkr]

Gator,
It was me. The good news is, you don't have to register any of your weapons with CA except ones they consider to be assault rifles ie. AK and AR patterns. You also don't have to worry about the Hi-cap mags for your non-assault rifle weapons. They are legal as long as they are legal in your state of legal residence. I'm not sure about Hi-caps with the assault rifles as I don't currently own one. Here's the e-mail I received from the CA DOJ Firearms branch with contact info.

This is in response to your recent correspondence to the Bureau of Firearms, regarding handgun registration requirements for active duty military personnel stationed in, but not a resident of California. Indeed, as long as you do not become a California resident (defined as possessing a California street address and a California driver's license or California ID card), the requirement to register any legal handguns you transport into the state would not apply, until such time as you become a California resident, as defined above. Bear in mind that any handgun transported within California without a concealed weapon permit must be unloaded in fully enclosed locked container.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need further assistance, please contact the Bureau of Firearms at (916) 263 - 4887, or via e-mail.
Sincerely,
Brent George
Staff Services Analyst
California Department of Justice
Bureau of Firearms
Training, Information, and Compliance Section
(916) 263 - 4868

If I were you I would call them before you get here and find out what you need to know. Brent is former military and another guy, I think Bill or Bob, was as well. Brent said there wer quite a few of them in the office. They were courteous and very willing to help. I made the mistake of calling them after I got here having left most of my guns in Kentucky.

Are you coming here instead of Korea now? If so, where are you all looking at being stationed?

Take Care,
Bill

 

[M28]

You also don't have to worry about the Hi-cap mags for your non-assault rifle weapons.

~Bill

Are you sure about this point? I don't know for a fact that it isn't correct, but it sure isn't my understanding.

Brian~

 

[mtb1bkr]

~Bill

Are you sure about this point? I don't know for a fact that it isn't correct, but it sure isn't my understanding.

Brian~

Brian,
I got that straight from Brad at the DOJ and all the local gun store owners as well. The trick is to make sure you are not a resident by thier definition.

Bill

 

[GatorFarmer]

Gator,
It was me. The good news is, you don't have to register any of your weapons with CA except ones they consider to be assault rifles ie. AK and AR patterns. You also don't have to worry about the Hi-cap mags for your non-assault rifle weapons. They are legal as long as they are legal in your state of legal residence. I'm not sure about Hi-caps with the assault rifles as I don't currently own one. Here's the e-mail I received from the CA DOJ Firearms branch with contact info.

This is in response to your recent correspondence to the Bureau of Firearms, regarding handgun registration requirements for active duty military personnel stationed in, but not a resident of California. Indeed, as long as you do not become a California resident (defined as possessing a California street address and a California driver's license or California ID card), the requirement to register any legal handguns you transport into the state would not apply, until such time as you become a California resident, as defined above. Bear in mind that any handgun transported within California without a concealed weapon permit must be unloaded in fully enclosed locked container.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need further assistance, please contact the Bureau of Firearms at (916) 263 - 4887, or via e-mail.
Sincerely,
Brent George
Staff Services Analyst
California Department of Justice
Bureau of Firearms
Training, Information, and Compliance Section
(916) 263 - 4868

If I were you I would call them before you get here and find out what you need to know. Brent is former military and another guy, I think Bill or Bob, was as well. Brent said there wer quite a few of them in the office. They were courteous and very willing to help. I made the mistake of calling them after I got here having left most of my guns in Kentucky.

Are you coming here instead of Korea now? If so, where are you all looking at being stationed?

Take Care,
Bill

Thanks Bill. Chinhae didn't have the facilities (apparently) for our eldest son to get the speech therapy that the doctors want him to get. Thus my wife turned in a first request for orders to Camp Pendleton. I think the print out said "1st FMF".

Whether she gets that or has to choose again next month, we'll need to see, but most of the openings lately seem to be in California for Corpsman billets that females can apply to.

Did they say that they would allow registration of an AR15, or are those still verboten? I think that I can turn my two CMMGs into bullet point ARs (they're off list receivers in California) making them legal, but that still leaves my Sig 556 and actualy Colt AR as well as the RRA.

Though I'm just a dependent, I'm sure that if we end up in California, all my registration worthy guns will be my wife's guns.

 

[mtb1bkr]

If she can't get Camp Pendleton, she should try for 29 Palms. It's a lot more peaceful up here, it's easier to find a place to live that won't send you to the poor house, a place to shoot is easy to find as we are surrounded by BLM land that's open for shooting and last, you can meet me!! Also, the gun shop in 29 Palms has just set up their own range and they are in the process of starting up some 3 gun match type stuff but right now it's mainly just a bunch of guys getting together to shoot.

You can register an AR as long as it has the bullet button or the other couple of CA friendly magazine release disablers. The best thing would be to call the DOJ and ask them about your specific guns especially the 556.

I was thinking about the fact that all of your guns would become "your wife's" guns for the time you are here. That would probably make your life much easier. If you all do end up at Pendleton, we'll still have to meet up sometime. I know there's a frequent gun show in the San Diego area.

Bill

 

[deadin]

As I remember from my active duty days, even though I could keep my home State-of-Residence and also be treated as if I were a resident of the State I was stationed in, my wife couldn't. She had to get a local DL, etc. Don't know if this is still the case or things have changed. (I retired in 1978)

Could cause complications if you are "checked" when out shooting and you have a gun that is not "registered" to you. I'm sure it would straighten out OK, but it could be a hassle at the time. Might take a trip to the station to resolve it.
(Probably the best thing would be to have a "permission slip" from your wife saying it's OK for you to be playing with her guns.)

 

[jkc]

I recently phoned CA DOJ with a question about carrying high-cap mags while traveling through the state --- fellow there referred me to a very informative DOJ website with FAQs on such matters --- I'd look there, as well...

 

[mtb1bkr]

As I remember from my active duty days, even though I could keep my home State-of-Residence and also be treated as if I were a resident of the State I was stationed in, my wife couldn't. She had to get a local DL, etc. Don't know if this is still the case or things have changed. (I retired in 1978)

Dean, I'm not positive, but I think that might still be required by some states. I asked the DMV when my wife and I were married how she would go about getting a new license if we were stationed far away. They said call and request a new one without a photo on it and they will send it, then next time she's home they can get a new pic and issue here a new one.


JKC, I have thought about the Hi-Cap carrying Concealed and then realized that I don't have a CC that CA accepts anyway, so it's a non issue. CA doesn't recognize any other state's CC permit, so it's a non issue. If you are traveling through CA and have hi-caps that are properly stored with the guns they belong to, and you are not trying to sell them to residents of CA then you are good to go. From the DOJs mouth, the rules are written for CA residents, not visitors.

Bill