Another Pre Ban mag question

[Ding126]

Let's say I have a couple of preban magazines..legally owned prior to 2000blah blah blah

I bring them with me to a shoot in Nevada....upon returning into Ca..Can I or should I, return home with them in tact?

[ke6guj]

yes, you can.

12020(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:
(23) The importation of a large-capacity magazine by a person who lawfully possessed the large-capacity magazine in the state prior to January 1, 2000, lawfully took it out of the state, and is returning to the state with the large-capacity magazine previously lawfully possessed in the state.

[Librarian]

... but please stop thinking of them as 'pre ban' - there is no magic date, and large-capacity magazines themselves are not banned (its transfer that is restricted).

[Southpaw45]

I thought there was a difference between pre and post ban mags. Isn't post bans marked with a manufacture date or it says "law inforcement or military use only"

[DedEye]

I thought there was a difference between pre and post ban mags. Isn't post bans marked with a manufacture date or it says "law inforcement or military use only"

Your answer is here (it is the same for mags as it is for rifles and uppers).

[SVT-40]

One thing you could do if you were really concerned is use a scribe or electro pencil to engrave your initials and the date you acquired your mags on the front portion of the mag body which would normally be hidden when the mag is in the gun.

There is no requirement to do this. but if you are really concerned it would show anyone who would see them as you returned to California that you owned the mags prior to leaving the state to begin with.

[DedEye]

One thing you could do if you were really concerned is use a scribe or electro pencil to engrave your initials and the date you acquired your mags on the front portion of the mag body which would normally be hidden when the mag is in the gun.

There is no requirement to do this. but if you are really concerned it would show anyone who would see them as you returned to California that you owned the mags prior to leaving the state to begin with.

In what possible way would that be useful? You can backdate a large capacity magazine and write whatever date you want on it, that doesn't make it proof that you bought it on that date.

DON'T ****ING WORRY ABOUT IT (There's no FAQ answer to this question, so read the full Wiki article and you'll see the exception explained there.

[2Cute2Shoot]

When we would drive out to the Nevada desert to go shooting, we would always leave magazines bigger than 10 at home. We were told by some Nevada gun shops that CHP arrested people driving back into CA with large magazines. I think they said it was 'importing' regardless. Luckily for us, we had family in NV with all the things we wanted

[ke6guj]

well, either those NV gun shops were spreading FUD, or CHP was improperly arresting people that were not violating the law.

12020(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:
(23) The importation of a large-capacity magazine by a person who lawfully possessed the large-capacity magazine in the state prior to January 1, 2000, lawfully took it out of the state, and is returning to the state with the large-capacity magazine previously lawfully possessed in the state.

[Scratch705]

or if you want to avoid the false arrest that CHP may be doing, just disassemble the hi-caps during the drive back from NV and when you get home reassemble them.

[SVT-40]

In what possible way would that be useful? You can backdate a large capacity magazine and write whatever date you want on it, that doesn't make it proof that you bought it on that date.

Of course it's not "proof". But in absence of any "proof" it certainly could not hurt your claim that you owned the mags before 2000.

As far as "backdating" mags. Of course you could do that. If thats what you choose to do. I'm not suggesting that.

But thats not what the OP asked about. He asked about bringing his legally possessed mags back into California after a trip out of state. He was concerned that if discovered by the police during reentry there would be an issue.

My suggestion was made to offer some evidence that the mags were owned by him prior to 2000.

When the police are confronted with a situation in the field where they need to make a decision on whether a crime is occurring. Such as importing over ten round mags into California. ANY evidence to prove the mags are legal would be a great help to them so they can make the right decision.

Here is the scenario:

You are stopped by the police and somehow the mags are discovered in your vehicle as you are returning from Nevada.

In the first case you have no evidence other than your word that you owned the mags prior to 2000.

Or

You tell the police "check my mags" they are all engraved with my initials as well as the date I acquired them?


In the first scenario the officer would only have your word to rely on to make his decision.

In the second scenario in addition to your word, the officer has some tangible proof there in front of him that you are telling the truth about when you bought the mags.

Whats the down side???

[Mssr. Eleganté]

SVT-40 is talking about winning your case on the side of the freeway right then and there instead of winning it at the police station that night or in the DA's office a month later.

Should you have to do it? No. But some police officers aren't fully up to speed on California gun law. Shocking, I know.

[SVT-40]

SVT-40 is talking about winning your case on the side of the freeway right then and there instead of winning it at the police station that night or in the DA's office a month later.

Should you have to do it? No. But some police officers aren't fully up to speed on California gun law. Shocking, I know.

Well said!!!

[RideIcon]

When we would drive out to the Nevada desert to go shooting, we would always leave magazines bigger than 10 at home. We were told by some Nevada gun shops that CHP arrested people driving back into CA with large magazines. I think they said it was 'importing' regardless. Luckily for us, we had family in NV with all the things we wanted

At that moment, when you are entering back into the state, it would be upon you to prove you owned them previously and were not importing them, although legally you are doing nothing wrong

[ivsamhell]

You tell the police "check my mags" they are all engraved with my initials as well as the date I acquired them?


In the first scenario the officer would only have your word to rely on to make his decision.

In the second scenario in addition to your word, the officer has some tangible proof there in front of him that you are telling the truth about when you bought the mags.

Whats the down side???

you could engrave them out of state as easily as you could purchase them, it is still your word with nothing in addition to it.