unregistered handgun

[CSACANNONEER]

From the previous postings, you can see why its hard to get a definitive answer. California law is never clear, its rarely on point, and it changes over time.

California has never made the mere possession of an unregistered handgun a crime. However if you arrested for carrying the weapon either concealed, or loaded, in a public place, the arrest is a misdemeanor if the weapon is registered to you. It's a felony if the weapon is not registered to you.

California has enacted laws requiring persons importing handguns into the state, and acquiring firearms within the state to register those firearms. (California doesn't like the word "Registration", but the processes involved are the same). Those laws were not retroactive. Even though you cannot be charged for possessing an unregistered handgun, you could be charged for failing to register a handgun that you received or imported.

Yes, but, there are hundreds of thousands of legal unregistered handguns in Ca. Illegally purchasing or illegally importing one would be a crime and the gun would be confinscated as evidence of a crime. So far, no one except you has even hinted at aquiring guns illegally and not registering them.

[RickD427]

Yes, but, there are hundreds of thousands of legal unregistered handguns in Ca. Illegally purchasing or illegally importing one would be a crime and the gun would be confinscated as evidence of a crime. So far, no one except you has even hinted at aquiring guns illegally and not registering them.

You're quite correct, I'm also sure that there are thousands of legally possessed, and unregistered, handguns in the state. Those would include handguns acquired, or imported, prior to the registration requirements. It would also include firearms lawfully manufactured by the possessor.

My point, in response to the question posed, was that if an individual failed to register an imported handgun, or acquired one through an improper transfer, they could not be prosecuted for possessing an unregistered handgun (because there is no such offense) but they could be prosecuted for the improper importation or acquisition. There's no "hint" at doing anything illegal. That's just a "straight shooting" answer to the question. Please note the OP was looking for a definitive answer and was having difficulty finding one.