I need some info... please help

[checkmate]

Hi everyone. I'm really hoping this is in the right section, I couldn't find anywhere else to put it. I'm looking into acquiring a gun license in California, and from there, a handgun license. I hear that it is very difficult, and I'm afraid my situation might disqualify me.

When I was 19, I got arrested and charged with a felony shoplifting charge in a different state. My willingness to assist and return all the stolen merchandise ended up reducing the charge to a misdemeanor. I was sentenced to one year of probation, which was flawlessly completed. Following that, I enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. I had an outstanding Navy career, meritoriously advanced to E-2 out of boot camp (lol not that big of a deal but i was proud of it), and advanced to Third Class Petty Officer my first time taking the test. I never recieved below a "Must Premote" on any eval... and was medically seperated from an injury I sustained before I could test for Second Class.

I see myself starting to ramble. The point I'm trying to make is that I really turned my life around from that idiot 18 year old. I loved to shoot, have no interest in a CCW license, and would just like a rifle or handgun of my own to take to the range. Now to my questions:
Am I going to be disqualified from owning a gun in California because of the felony or misdemeanor charge?
Would they take into account my time in the military?
Anyone with a similar situation go through this, and if so what was the result?

Thanks in advance for any and all info you guys can give me!

[Dangerpin]

I'm not a lawyer or a gun-law-expert of any sort but my understanding is that since you were not convicted of a felony and the misdemeanor was not related to misuse of force or violence you are probably fine.

As a side note, there is no such thing as a CA "gun license", you do need to take an extremely easy test to get a Handgun Safety Certificate which allows you to purchase handguns for a (I think) 5 year period.

When you purchase any firearm it has to go through an FFL which will do a check to verify you can legally purchase your firearm of choice. If you don't pass the check you cannot purchase and in some cases (depending on where and how you are buying) have to pay a % percentage penalty based on the cost of the gun as a restocking fee.

A good and cheap method for determining if you are eligible is to wait until the next time Big5 has a sale on $99 Mosin rifles and if you don't pass the check you won't be out much aside from the small charge for the background check.

Good luck and good work getting your life turned around.

[checkmate]

A good and cheap method for determining if you are eligible is to wait until the next time Big5 has a sale on $99 Mosin rifles and if you don't pass the check you won't be out much aside from the small charge for the background check.

awesome... that's a lot of help, thanks! so if im understanding this correctly, i can just walk into a gun store today and attempt to buy a weapon (not a handgun)? how long does the background check take?

[762cavalier]

A good and cheap method for determining if you are eligible

The good and cheap way may get you into legal trouble if you are actually prohibited. you will know within ten days. If all you have are non-violent misdemeanors you will be fine. depends on what you were actually convicted of. Also if you don't want to get into trouble by attempting to buy a firearm if you are a prohibited person, it is best to submit a PFEC (personal firearms eligibility check).

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/pfecapp.pdf

takes a while but will not get you into any trouble.

[Big E]

A friend went through this, old guy at Turner's told him to do the PFEC first. He was clear, but it kept him out of potential trouble (which was what he was warned about). It was something like $20 plus a $10 Notary Public stamp. But he had something to be worried about, yours doesn't "sound" so bad.

[checkmate]

awesome! i'm filling out the PFEC application right now. thanks everyone!!

[diginit]

No violent crimes and a good service record. You won't have a problem. Now you have to study up on California's stupid gun laws.
What are you buying?

[AIMSMALL]

Welcome to cal guns! A tip for new members, change your settings in the user CP to automatically subscribe to threads if you post on them otherwise you will end up having to search alot of threads to find the one you want later AND you won't know if someone replies to your post. Also, click the "subscribe to this thread" button if you are interested in something you see on the boards, this will save you alot of time later when you want to go back and see it again.

[Dangerpin]

it is best to submit a PFEC (personal firearms eligibility check).

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/pfecapp.pdf

takes a while but will not get you into any trouble.

Thanks for setting me straight Cav!

[checkmate]

No violent crimes and a good service record. You won't have a problem. Now you have to study up on California's stupid gun laws.
What are you buying?

planning on starting out with remington 870 (i love shotguns), then a Browning over under shotgun (not sure which model yet), then move on to possibly an AR build...

Welcome to cal guns! A tip for new members, change your settings in the user CP to automatically subscribe to threads if you post on them otherwise you will end up having to search alot of threads to find the one you want later AND you won't know if someone replies to your post. Also, click the "subscribe to this thread" button if you are interested in something you see on the boards, this will save you alot of time later when you want to go back and see it again.

thanks for the info!! everyone here's a big help!