How many things are wrong with this?

[GSG222]

Just have him download and fill out this form send in the $19.00 and register it into his name

http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/forms/pdf/volreg.pdf

That sounds too simple/good a deal. AagainI think the risky part here is that this is a "street gun". If you are sure it's a clean gun, send in the form and even the worst scenario would not be a big deal. In this case, when they run the serial number against their database, nobody knows what may come up -

1. it may come up as being reported stolen - now they will return it to the owner, and find out whether you are the thief or know the thief.
2. worse - it may come up as a weapon involved in a crime. Now you become a subject of criminal investigation.
3. even if it comes up clean, they may get the current registered owner of the gun involved (legally he is still 100% responsible for the whereabout of the weapon). That may bring up some stories you don't want to hear.
4. unlikely but still possibe, the serial number brings up nothing at all and they eventually decide to grant you ownership of the gun so they can at least track it from now on. Now that your identity is tied to the serial number and everything is on the official record, guess who they will contact when something one day shows up in their system (due to update of the database, linking of different systems, newly recovered evidence, etc)?

All considered, buying a handgun of unknown origin in the street is dumb and dangerous; so is trying to get it registered. My suggestion is to get rid of it; or keep it strictly at home and use it only when you're about to lose something you are willing to die for.

[to the OP, I personally would not let a young man who buys illegal weapon and carries concealed/loaded to have dinner with my family - no, i won't let him touch my manure either!]

[russ69]

There is some incredibly bad advice that has been given here. The first thing I would do is not go shooting with someone that has an illegally acquired firearm.....ever! If asked by the kid how to make an illegal gun purchase legal, I would tell him it can't be done. The next thing I would ask him would be; Is a 600 dollar firearm worth a felony? Then I would sell it to the cops in the next gun "buy back" program. California firearms laws suck but getting some "quiet time" in a county jail is not my idea of a good trade.

Thanx, Russ

[Flouncer]

A Blur

This thread made my head hurt and ruined a perfectly good glass of wine.

Somewhat related, Hope it helps in the discussion.

The OP, being the friend of the "guy" writes down the Serial Number of the weapon and walks into the sheriff substation and asks them to run it to see if it's stolen. That's what I did for my brother who bought a 2x2 shotgun at a yard sale in South Carolina and is keeping it in my garage until he backs back from out of country.

It's only step one, I acknowledge.

[OldLincoln]

He could just fill out the transfer form and send it in with his $18 and be done with it. I did that with my old 1911 from the 80's and nobody batted an eyelash. If the gun is brand new read all 63 preceding posts.

[joedogboy]

Oh wait, I forgot. You could go to one of those no questions asked gun buyback deals. they usually post them in the newspaper. Then you could get some $$$ or what ever they're giving out and be rid of this albatross.

No, no no.

Those are held to help criminals dispose of guns that they KNOW are linked to crimes.

[resident-shooter]

+1 on him not being a "nice kid".

It is not necessary to join calguns before buying a gun if you got a knowledgeable friend/gun owner like I did. I asked him hundreds of questions and clarifications before I bought something. My point is: know before you do something.

[toby]

I would smack-em upside the head take his gun and tell him sorry, you should have read the rules..

[FNH5-7]

Talked to a young man yesterday in his twenties.
He bought a glock 23 and never did a legal transfer with it.
1. If caught with a gun that is not transferred properly, will a LEO be able to find this out if stopped and would the weapon be confiscated. Is there any way he can now legally register or transfer the weapon so that it is legal, without going back to the original owner?

2. He only has Hi capacity mags for it. I recommended he get some 10 rounders for it.

3. Carried it loaded in his backpack while in Yosemite!
Oh no, now everyone thinks that they can carry concealed in a National park!

4. Carried it for protection against black bears!
I told him that 10MM would be the choice, and even if he did shoot one to protect himself, he would probably either being eaten by the bear, or thrown in jail!LOL

Really, he is a nice kid, and I would like to make some good suggestions to him, and take him out to practice with his newly "acquire" firearm. Please give me some constructive advice as to what he should do to make it legal.

Thanks

Is the kid from another state? If he is then it's a completely different story.

[WWDHD?]

I'd like to know how this story ended.

[-hanko]

Talked to a young man yesterday in his twenties.
He bought a glock 23 and never did a legal transfer with it.
1. If caught with a gun that is not transferred properly, will a LEO be able to find this out if stopped and would the weapon be confiscated. Is there any way he can now legally register or transfer the weapon so that it is legal, without going back to the original owner?

2. He only has Hi capacity mags for it. I recommended he get some 10 rounders for it.

3. Carried it loaded in his backpack while in Yosemite!
Oh no, now everyone thinks that they can carry concealed in a National park!

4. Carried it for protection against black bears!
I told him that 10MM would be the choice, and even if he did shoot one to protect himself, he would probably either being eaten by the bear, or thrown in jail!LOL

Really, he is a nice kid, and I would like to make some good suggestions to him, and take him out to practice with his newly "acquire" firearm. Please give me some constructive advice as to what he should do to make it legal.

Thanks

+1 on the headache and ruined glass of wine...

Since I've been on calguns, the thrust has always steered toward helping those that might have stepped over the line. So with that in mind...

1. Get someone to make an anonymous inquiry with law enforcement to run the gun's s/n.

2. Then, if the sn comes back clean, fill out the voluntary registration form with $19.00 and send it to doj. They don't care how you came about the gun, they just want it in their database.

If the sn comes back unclean, your friend needs to have a boating accident asap.

3. The mag issue is immaterial, but he does want to get a 10-rounder or 2 for range use.

4. Strongly recommend he not carry it concealed and loaded. You can help him by explaining the legal ways to transport a pistol in CA. Once he knows what's legal and the consequences of illegal carry, he'll make his own choice.

5. As to bears...there are more fos posts on this board than all others combined regarding bear. In CA, he'll be struck by lightning before he's attacked by a bear. End of story.

6. For those of you who'd refuse to dine or get manure from this young man, that attitude is not in keeping with calguns' goals...which from the beginning have focused on educating folks on the bizarre world of CA weapons laws, and keeping them within the laws...like it or not. Given a couple of attitudes in prior posts, I'd die of starvation before I let a couple of you serve me a meal. Shame for not helping.

That said, he did make a stupid choice. Are we going to help him or berate him??

-hanko