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We attempt to answer frequently asked questions about California and Federal Firearms laws on this wiki. Please note that we can not host electioneering where we attempt to influence the outcome of a campaign. CGF can host information on pending and past legislation that affects the civil rights of California Gun Owners.

Contributor's/Editor's Note

December, 2011: Articles are slowly being updated to the new numbering and reorganization of the Penal Code Dangerous Weapons Control Laws as implemented by the passage of SB 180 and SB 1115 in 2010.

We apologize for any confusion experienced while the articles are undergoing revision.

See this PDF for a 37-page translation of old Penal Code numbers to new Penal Code numbers, effective January 2012: http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/images/3/3a/California_Penal_Code_Renumbering%2C_2012.pdf

Cheat Sheet for the new Penal Code

Moving to or Visiting California With Firearms

New residents or visitors should read the article here : Moving to California with firearms

Transportation of Firearms

Transporting

California Firearms Laws

Background

• Time Line of California Firearms Laws
• Time Line of Federal Firearms laws since 1968
• History of 'Assault Weapon' laws

Semiautomatic Rifles

• Off List Lowers (OLL/OLR) - ARs, AKs, FALs, etc.
• Non detachable magazines
• Options for detachable magazines
• Firearms listed by name as Assault Weapons
• Transporting
• Possession of UNregistered California "assault weapons"
• Military Assault Weapon Permit - MAWP
• Penal Code covering Assault weapons and .50 Caliber rifles

Firearms Generally

• .50 BMG rifles
• Buying and selling firearms in California

• Certificate of Eligibility

• Defining loaded in California
• Definition of a firearm/gun

• Federal residency requirements
• Felons and firearms and ammunition
• Firearms on Federal Bureau of Land Management Property
• Firearms registration
• Firearms rights prohibitions
• Flying with firearms

• Gun Buy Back Programs
• Gun Free School Zones

• Importing Firearms into the United States
• Inheriting firearms, both within California and Interstate

• Large-capacity magazine restrictions
• Lend or Loan a Firearm
• Locks, Safes and Laws
• Moving to California with firearms

• Personal manufacture

• Private Party Transfer
• Protective or Restraining orders (RO/TRO)

• Restoring firearms rights

• Shipping Firearms Within California
• State Preemption of Some Gun Regulation
• Storage and Children

• Straw Purchase

• The CFLC system
• Transferring firearms Interstate
• Transferring Firearms Among Some Family Members

• Useful Acronyms

Handguns

• The Handgun Safety Certificate
• The Safe Handgun List
• Options for acquiring unlisted handguns
  • Intrafamily transfers
  • Single shot exemption
• Transporting
• Unloaded Open Carry
• Defining Concealed
• Unlicensed Concealed Carry
• California License to Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW)
• Limits on handgun purchases
• 21 or Older for Handguns
• Restrictions on semiautomatic handguns
• Voluntary Registration

Illegal, or highly questionable guns and products

This section covers some things which, while sometimes arguably legal, might be very difficult or expensive to defend.

• Slide Fire or Bumpfire stocks
• Pistol/Carbine kits

Recent legislation

2009 - AB 962 De Leon, Ammunition -- overturned JAN 18th, 2011

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Poltical Analysis

Poltical Analysis

Dictionary

• Firearms Terms and Acronyms

• U.S. Supreme Court Terminology from SCOTUSblog.

• CGN (http://Calguns.net) Specific Acronyms

• Slang and Other

Resources

• Table of Contents to California Penal Code - Of most relevance is "PART 6. CONTROL OF DEADLY WEAPONS" beginning with section 16000.
• California Code from the CA Legislature,California Penal Code from FindLaw, California Penal Code from ONCLE
• California Code of Regulations (CCR)
• California Criminal Jury Instructions
• United States Code
• Calguns.net
• Calgunlaws