Noobie Handgun question

[user123]

Hi, I just had a question I was hoping I can get answered...

What is it about a handgun that makes it CA compliant or non compliant??? I know there is a limitation to the amount of rounds a magazine can carry but I don't understand why the handgun itself would be considered non legal in CA... I'm sure there are a several reasons but I'm asking specifically in regards to these Sigs...

If you look in the specifications tab for this handgun, it shows CA compliant...

http://www.sigsauer.com/products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=7&productid=61

But in the specifications tab for this particular one, it states that it is NOT CA compliant... Why is that?

http://www.sigsauer.com/products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=7&productid=305

Thanks in advance

[user123]

Would the only reason for these particular Sigs being non compliant be because they did not submit these particular models for "safety" testing to get on the California's safe gun list?

[kabley]

From what I understand, the specific handgun modle was not submitted for testing thus making the gun non CA compliant.

[dfens]

To make it compliant they have to submit and pay fees to get it on the DOJ list that is one of the reasons why the example you listed is not on the list.

The other reason is they make it harder to get on the list every couple of years to where we are at the point any gun that wants to get on the list has to have 2 things. 1) A funky CA approved chambered loaded indicator and 2) a mag disconnect.

Gun companies don't want to redesign their guns to meet these stupid requirements so that's the reason why we are screwed on getting any new model that comes out.

Any gun that got on the list and pays its fees to stay on the list prior to all these new restrictions don't have to have these features.

They know they can't ban handguns outright so they try every now and then to limit the number of firearms available to be sold here in CA. Should just own up to it that they don't like guns and we are going to screw you anyway we can. Which is funny because us gun owners would gladly pay the sales tax and help the local economy if we could by this or that.

If all these dumb laws disappeared tomorrow I hit the guns stores buying stuff up right and left.

[user123]

Thanks for the replies...

This kind of leads me into my next question...

It's stated that if a person that is a resident in another state bought a non CA compliant handgun such as the P226 Elite, and that person becomes a CA resident, he can register it legally and then also legally do a PPT with a person that is originally from CA...

So my question is this... I have a friend that is from CA but goes to college in Nevada, so he went and got residency and a Nevada driver's license. Can he just buy a handgun such as the Sig Elite or something similar that is not on the CA "safe" list and then just register it in CA in order to do a PPT with me? What is the legality of such an action? Will he be in trouble for buying a handgun and turning around and doing a PPT with me in such a short period?

If that is the case and he needed to sit on them for awhile what is the limit to the number of handguns he can do this with before it is considered a crime or he needs some sort of sellers or collectors license? I'd like to reiterate that this is not intended to make money or turn into some shady business... There are several handguns that I would really like to own that is not considered CA compliant... So I would like to know if I can just pick out 3 or 4 handguns that I really want that is not on the CA list, have my friend purchase these in Nevada and wait the year or so until he is done with school and when he moves back to CA, have him register these and then do a PPT with me?

Would this be feasible? More importantly... Is this considered legal?

[user123]

So... no one has any insight?

[stix213]

Its illegal to buy handguns for the purpose of selling them unless he is a licensed gun dealer, the amount of time owning the gun isn't an issue.

If your friend legally has residency in Nevada he can legally buy a handgun for his personal use, when he moves back to CA (legal CA resident now) he can legally register his off roster handgun as part of his move back. Then he is free to private party transfer the handgun to you.

So bottom line, he CAN buy handguns in Nevada for himself and later decide to sell them to you, but its a crime for him to buy handguns in Nevada for the purpose of selling them to you.

[Librarian]

Slightly complicated answer.

First, some context: the Roster is being challenged in court. It's possible that in a year or so, it may go away.

While it yet exists ....

It appears certain that your friend is currently a Nevada resident and eligible to buy guns there.

In order for him to bring off-Roster guns, he has to move back here and once again be a CA resident. I think that's what you said, but I wanted to restate it.

So, if that were the case, then YES, he could buy whatever he likes in NV, move back to CA, and, as he chooses, can PPT those off-Roster handguns to whomever. He would have 60 days from bringing them into CA to either register them as a Personal Handgun Importer, or to dispose of them through an FFL, as by selling them PPT. Once registered by the PHI they can be transferred by PPT at any time, not just that first 60 days.

Importing them explicitly for sale would be bad, but likely difficult to establish if questioned.

See also the FAQs, linked below.

[user123]

Thank you... That really does clear it up... Also, great wiki...

[shtr45acp]

All these guys here speak good stuff. May I add that you try the cal doj website to do some more research. Remember, there's a dedicated group of state workers with nothing else in mind other than to complicate your life, charge you money, and do their best to either disuade you from your purchase/tr or just plain grab your gun and jail you. There's a crackerjack buncha guys and gals there at doj that will also be able to answer your questions, either on the phone or online. Gunlists are there too, for whats allowed in this land of left wing loonies. Stay in Nevada.

[user123]

Well I read the safe gun list sticky and I just needed someone to answer what the write up did not... As far as the CA DOJ is concerned... I don't think they would be so helpful to my questions about how to circumvent their laws in order to get the handguns I'd like.

In regards to the Nevada comment, my friend from CA goes to UNLV... I wasn't using the word "friend" to disguise the fact that it was me...

Now for my .02
I lived in CA all my life and I love it... If it came down to owning a gun or living in CA, it's a no brainer... I'd much rather live along the Cali coast than be the proud owner of a fully automatic. Now I agree the states gun laws are ridiculous and they seem to target responsible gun owners more than the criminals but if it came down to it, I personally can't see myself moving just because of gun restrictions... I'd just stick to shotguns or rifles... While I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, I heard the same complaints from guys that came from some hickass towns in the middle of the sticks talking about how gay this state is because we don't allow fully automatics or some other irrational argument. Now, I've only been to Texas, Nevada, Louisiana and Illinois but I can tell you that compared to California, all those places suck balls(IMO)... Even if I could own a fully automatic and an AT4 and walk around town with it strapped on my back, you couldn't pay me enough to live in those states...

As far as the "left wing loonies" I'd much rather be surrounded by the average so called left wing loony than the average right wing conservative idiot...

end of rant...