California handgun import law

[GatorHunter]

Hello,
I have lived in california for about 1 year and 8 months I can already legaly purchase guns but was wondering if I can bring my handgun from where I use to live back with me and register it or am I better off leaving it where it lay?

I was wondering if anyone has ever done this and I dont want to fill out the doj form and then a swat team show up at my house...... So please let me know if you have an idea?? Thanks,
-Gator

[M. D. Van Norman]

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/ab991frm.pdf

[GatorHunter]

yea but it says before 60 days and they know I am already here.....

[choprzrul]

Isn't that 60 days refer to submitting the paperwork within 60 days of bringing the handgun to CA?

[gunn]

Isn't that 60 days refer to submitting the paperwork within 60 days of bringing the handgun to CA?

When I last called the CAL DOJ, it was 60 days from when you brought the gun into CA. Since you were already the owner prior to moving here and you are bringing your own possession from out of state into the state yourself, there's no issue with just self-registering it and no need for an FFL to be involved. I dealt with the same issue last year bringing back a pistol with me from TX. It was a P38 so all my mags were <10rds.

(Don't forget that part.) If you just moved into the state last year, the reasons for you to be in legal possession of hicap mags is slim to none aside from being LEO/military w/ the appropriate paperwork. Well, you could have been a legal resident prior to 2000, found one in the woods, or bought one from an armored car company but I seriously doubt any of these defenses would stand up to very much legal scrutiny.



-g

[GatorHunter]

hahaha gunn thanks alot!!! I am going to try and see what happens if you hear about some one being attacked for no reason they came to get me...... My gun is legal in the state and I dont intend on bringing mags...

[Mssr. Eleganté]

You'll be fine. The law specifically says that "bringing a handgun into this state" is what starts the 60 day clock.

On or after January 1, 1998, within 60 days of bringing a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person into this state, a personal handgun importer shall do one of the following:
(i) Forward by prepaid mail or deliver in person to the Department of Justice, a report prescribed by the department including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm in question.
(ii) Sell or transfer the firearm in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d) or in accordance with the provisions of an exemption from subdivision (d).
(iii) Sell or transfer the firearm to a dealer licensed pursuant to Section 12071.
(iv) Sell or transfer the firearm to a sheriff or police department.

Even if you had already brought the handguns into California and hadn't registered them within the 60 days you would still be protected. The law also says you can't get into trouble for registering your handguns late if they only found out about the violation because of you sending in the registration form late.

Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not apply to a person who reports his or her ownership of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person after the applicable grace period specified in paragraph (2) or (3) expires if evidence of that violation arises only as the result of the person submitting the report described in paragraph (2) or (3).