moving to CA

[ss385]

new to calguns...Im moving to so cal and need the info on what to do to bring
my guns. have ak 47,ar 15, cetme,hk g3,and also need info on home builds.
Im in florida at this time but moving soon.
thanks....ss385.

[EBR Works]

Welcome to CalGuns. Have a look at this first:

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf

[Spyder]

Ya, we'd have to know the make and model of them to know if they're listed or not.

Welcome to the board though, it is a HUGE resource and will help you in every way! What part of Southern California? Why ya moving?

[jeffyboy]

Welcome! Read the flowchart and if you have any questions just post them. We're here to help.

[ss385]

looked at the flow chart...seems eveything i have is illegal in ca.
Whats going on there?.....what do i do now.?

[ke6guj]

Are they illegal by name? or by features? If by exact name, nothing you can do. If by features, there are options to californicate the rifles and make them legal.

[Dr Rockso]

new to calguns...Im moving to so cal and need the info on what to do to bring
my guns. have ak 47,ar 15, cetme,hk g3,and also need info on home builds.
Im in florida at this time but moving soon.
thanks....ss385.

The flowchart does touch on this a bit, but essentially there are two ways for rifles to be banned in this state. "Listed" rifles cannot be imported, period, no matter what you do to them. Page 2 of the flowchart shows those rifles. Mere possession of a receiver of one of those rifles is enough to get you in hot water.

Now, on to "off-list" rifles. If the firearm is not listed specifically, but is very similar to a listed rifle (say an un-listed Stag-15 vs. a listed Colt AR-15) you may possess it in California provided it conforms to the "features" ban, which states that semi-automatic centerfire rifles with detachable magazines cannot have any "evil features" such as a pistol grip or flash hider. The most common method to get around the features ban is to install a magazine lock, a device that makes your detachable-magazine rifle a fixed-magazine rifle as far as the law goes. Instead of removing the magazine by depressing the release with your finger, you can only depress the release of a magazine locking device with a tool such as a bullet tip.

We realize this is incredibly confusing, and intentionally so (thanks Sacramento). Unfortunately because of the way the ban is structured, simply saying you have an AR-15 (for example) doesn't really allow us to give you much advise, seeing as it could be either legal or illegal in several different ways, even if functionally identical to a legal rifle. If you post both the make and model of the firearms you wish to bring to the state, we can give you more useful advice.

[Dr Rockso]

By the way, you can NOT legally import any magazines with capacities greater than 10 rounds. Either sell them, keep them out of state, or disassemble them before moving to California (no constructive possession under CA law). Magazines may be reassembled here provided they are permanently modified to accept no more than 10 rounds.

[dieselpower]

I hope you are on military orders, and maybe your command will allow you to register them. If you are just moving here for a job I think you need to disassemble any AWs (by name) and box them up. I think you can keep them, just not assemble them into a firearm. Replace the lowers and then comply with the law on features.

This is only my 2 cents and I am not a firearms lawyer.

Anyone want to confirm that a stripped Colt Sporter lower can be brought into the state and never be assembled?....

[Dr Rockso]

Anyone want to confirm that a stripped Colt Sporter lower can be brought into the state and never be assembled?....

That has been speculated, but is not generally recommended. The gist of the argument is the law bans listed firearms, and a stripped lower does not meet the definition of a firearm under that statute. Would you really want to pay $$$ to an attorney to make that argument?

[Tarn_Helm]

Don't give up your freedom if you don't have to!

looked at the flow chart...seems eveything i have is illegal in ca.
Whats going on there?.....what do i do now.?

Don't give up your freedom if you don't have to!

This is a "may issue" state, so unless you have connections you will not get a CCW.

Stay out of here if you don't have to come here.

The gun laws here are bad and getting worse: http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=4380

[ZRX61]

Bring ammo..

[dieselpower]

I say please for the love of God...come here and bring as many voters as you can.

Store the illegal lowers, buy some stag lowers and the legal AKs and come on in.

[PorkLover]

looked at the flow chart...seems eveything i have is illegal in ca.
Whats going on there?.....what do i do now.?

welcome to the world of neutered weapons.........

[Benz]

you pay 10% state income tax plus 8.25% sales tax. All of which goes to walfare. and if someone breaks into your home and you shoot them and they DONT die. You go to jail. If someone is stealing your car you have to let them or go to jail. Just dont come to this ****ty state. i hate this place.