Flying back with handguns?

[Kahouna]

I'm heading out of state for a few days and was thinking about bringing back a couple handguns. They are with family and have basically been in storage for over two years until I decided what to do with them. Is there anything I need to do here in CA? I'm a resident of CA, and have been for a couple years now.

Thanks!

[rivviepop]

Start by reading these two links:

http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php/Transferring_Firearms_Among_Some_Family_Members

http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php/Transferring_firearms_Interstate

You'll find many, many (many, many) threads on Calguns dealing with this issue, hit up the Search feature and you'll find dozens of posts by the folks around here who know the law.

[rabagley]

rivviepop: These guns are not being transferred, he already owns them but they've remained out of state. As such, your two links don't help.

OP: when you bring a handgun into the state in you become an importer and must register the handguns.

I have spoken to the DOJ and received one of two answers depending on who I talk to.

Answer #1: use the voluntary registration form http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/volreg.pdf

Answer #2: use the new resident handgun ownership report http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/ab991frm.pdf

For me, and what I have done in the exact same circumstances is #2.

[rivviepop]

rivviepop: These guns are not being transferred, he already owns them but they've remained out of state. As such, your two links don't help

Actually, I re-read it twice and I see now that his statement can be taken either way -- the OP didn't explicitly say he already owned them (or did not), just that they were in storage with family waiting on his decision. I read that to mean that the family owned them, but I see how it can be read that he already owns them. So, he has the answer to both now.

[Vin496]

I would use the new resident form. Remember the only thing you can't do is bring back intact high cap mags.

[Steve O]

Is it legal to just ship the firearm to your self?

[yellowfin]

Is it legal to just ship the firearm to your self?

Short answer is no.

[Steve O]

ohh right, not form state to state....

[ke6guj]

Is it legal to just ship the firearm to your self?

If they are your firearms, you can legally ship them to yourself.

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? [Back]


Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

The trick is that UPS/FedEX's shipping policies do not allow for you to ship to a non-licensee, and federal law prohibits you from shipping a handgun via USPS. So, basically, yellowfin is correct, NO