Handgun Safety Certificate

[calnurse]

Hello and good afternoon! My HSC card expires on 2/3/12 and decided to take the test so I could beat the expiration date. The gun store I went to said I couldn't take it early and would have to take the test tomorrow. He said if I would have taken the test, there might be a conflict with the DOJ computer system (my current card may overlap with my soon to be issued HSC card). I did not know the DOJ monitors the HSC cards . Can any one shed light on this? Oh well, off to take the test tomorrow!!!

[jonc]

dont think so...

i just spoke to turners in covina....
because i need to renew my card....

they say if you come in to RENEW as early as you want before EXP or up to 1YR
after EXp , JUST PAY THE FEE AND NO test is needed....

[DVSmith]

To renew, you pay your fee and take the test.

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/12800.php

12805. (a) An applicant for a handgun safety certificate shall successfully pass the objective test referred to in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 12804, with a passing grade of at least 75 percent. Any person receiving a passing grade on the objective test shall immediately be issued a handgun safety certificate by the instructor.
(b) An applicant who fails to pass the objective test upon the first attempt shall be offered additional instructional materials by the instructor such as a videotape or booklet. The person may not retake the objective test under any circumstances until 24 hours have elapsed after the failure to pass the objective test upon the first attempt. The person failing the test on the first attempt shall take another version of the test upon the second attempt. All tests shall be taken from the same instructor except upon permission by the department, which shall be granted only for good cause shown. The instructor shall make himself or herself available to the applicant during regular business hours in order to retake the test.
(c) The certified instructor may charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), fifteen dollars ($15) of which is to be paid to the department pursuant to subdivision (e).
(d) An applicant to renew a handgun safety certificate shall be required to pass the objective test. The certified instructor may charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25), fifteen dollars ($15) of which is to be forwarded to the department pursuant to subdivision (e).
(e) The department may charge the certified instructor up to fifteen dollars ($15) for each handgun safety certificate issued by that instructor to cover the department's cost in carrying out and enforcing this article, and enforcing this title, as determined annually by the department.
(f) All money received by the department pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the Firearms Safety and Enforcement Special Fund created pursuant to Section 12076.5.
(g) The department shall conduct enforcement activities, including, but not limited to, law enforcement activities to ensure compliance with Title 2 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 4.

[HighValleyRanch]

Ha Ha,
Since California requires a Handgun safety test to own a gun, then they should provide proper gun safety eduction in the public school systems like they did for driver education for a drivers license!

[Kodemonkey]

This does not compute. What happens if you lose the HSC the day after you take the test? You can't buy a gun for 5 years?

Just take the test again. I am nearly certain the DOJ doesn't register or track the HSC - only because I've never heard anyone talk about it before.

[DVSmith]

This does not compute. What happens if you lose the HSC the day after you take the test? You can't buy a gun for 5 years?

Just take the test again.

If your certificate is lost, the issuing instructor can replace it for a fee as they still have to pay the DOJ for the replacement card.

http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/hscfaqs#a13

You are correct, the DOJ has no record of your certificate, only the issuing instructor keeps those records.

[Kodemonkey]

If you certificate is lost, the issuing instructor can replace it for a fee as they still have to pay the DOJ for the replacement card.

And how do you prove that you had one? What if the issuing instructor (read gunstore) goes under?

[Munk]

Hello and good afternoon! My HSC card expires on 2/3/12 and decided to take the test so I could beat the expiration date. The gun store I went to said I couldn't take it early and would have to take the test tomorrow. He said if I would have taken the test, there might be a conflict with the DOJ computer system (my current card may overlap with my soon to be issued HSC card). I did not know the DOJ monitors the HSC cards . Can any one shed light on this? Oh well, off to take the test tomorrow!!!

There is no record that would pertain to an overlap.

Discard your old card and take the test anew.

Why would you need to take the HSC again anyway? Are you buying a handgun that day?

HSC is only required if you will be receiving a handgun by transfer or loan, it isn't required for posession, has no use as an ID (since it's hand filled out), and is only good for a finite amount of time. It would serve you the most benefit by being purchased at the same time as another handgun, that way you get the longest potential use of it.

[DVSmith]

And how do you prove that you had one? What if the issuing instructor (read gunstore) goes under?

You are out of luck. You retake the test and pay the fee.

[Kodemonkey]

DVSmith: from your link

Yes. A replacement Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) is available only through the DOJ Certified Instructor who issued your HSC.

This indicates that they just need to go through their records at THAT store to prove it. So, that reinforces my belief that the HSC is not recorded by the DOJ in a central location.

I honestly can't imagine for the life of me why DOJ wouldn't want you to take the test earlier. Heck, it's just more $10 they get that much earlier from the FFL.

[paul0660]

then they should provide proper gun safety eduction in the public school systems like they did for driver education for a drivers license!

You must be as old as I am.

They don't do that any more.

[DVSmith]

DVSmith: from your link

Yes. A replacement Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) is available only through the DOJ Certified Instructor who issued your HSC.

This indicates that they just need to go through their records at THAT store to prove it. So, that reinforces my belief that the HSC is not recorded by the DOJ in a central location.

I honestly can't imagine for the life of me why DOJ wouldn't want you to take the test earlier. Heck, it's just more $10 they get that much earlier from the FFL.

Yes, I missed the first post about not being allowed to take the test early. That is complete non-sense made up by whoever told the OP that.

My response was about a renewal requiring a retake of the test and paying a new $25 fee.

I never have sent the DOJ any record of HSC issuance other than the annual report of the quantity I issued that year. They have absolutely no record of who the cards are issued to.

[RRichie09]

Why would you need to take the HSC again anyway? Are you buying a handgun that day?

This, I think that gun store just saved you $25.

You must be as old as I am.

They don't do that any more.

That's crazy. When I was in HS it was SO IMPORTANT that they made me take the class even though I already had my DL. I left the state for a few years so when I came back my senior year I hadn't taken the class which was mandatory for graduation. CA government is stupid in general, not just about gun laws.

[Lead Waster]

Fees fees fees fees! That's the name of the game. What happened to the stupid Basic Firearms Safety Certificate that was good for a lifetime, except not really?!

[Kodemonkey]

Fees fees fees fees! That's the name of the game. What happened to the stupid Basic Firearms Safety Certificate that was good for a lifetime, except not really?!

Yeah. I've got one of those too. Apparently, every 5 years you go stupid and forget everything about gun safety.