Has anyone ever de-registered a California Assault Rifle?

[PascoePete]

Hi,
Has anyone ever de-registered an assault rifle with the California DOJ?

Peter

[morrcarr67]

Hi,
Has any ever re-registered an assault rifle with the California DOJ?

Peter

If it's a banned by name rifle there's no way to de-register it.

If it was registered based on features you can de-register it.

If the characteristics that make my firearm a category 3 assault weapon are removed, can I cancel the registration? Can I sell it as regular (non-assault weapon) firearm?

Yes. If the defining characteristics establishing a firearm as a category 3 assault weapon are removed, it is no longer an assault weapon and the registration may be canceled. However, once the registration is canceled, you can never replace the characteristic(s) that make it an assault weapon, or you will be in possession of an illegal weapon. To cancel an assault weapon registration, contact DOJ at (916) 227-2153. Once the registration has been canceled, the firearm can be sold or transferred like any other firearm (non-assault weapon).

https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/regagunfaqs#14

[MountainLion]

Hi,
Has any ever re-registered an assault rifle with the California DOJ?

Peter

For many years, I kept thinking that nobody had ever done it successfully. I think Bill Wiese had the same observation. But a few months ago, someone reported on Reddit or CaGuns that they had done it, including an acknowledgement from the DoJ.

[PascoePete]

Is there a pointer to the information in Reddit or CaGuns such as a title.
I would like to read it.
Peter

[The Gleam]

For many years, I kept thinking that nobody had ever done it successfully. I think Bill Wiese had the same observation. But a few months ago, someone reported on Reddit or CaGuns that they had done it, including an acknowledgement from the DoJ.

While it's difficult to perform successful searches on Calguns now days for older threads/posts, I recall at least 3 different threads providing anecdotes on Calguns members that de-registeted their 'SB23' features-banned guns that were not subjest to Roberti-Roos.

Some type of confirmation from the DOJ was received some 6 months later or so (pre-COVID), if I recall correctly.

And yet all were in agreement that it seemed that the DOJ was patronizing at best, that once on record, always on record - meaning, it's not as if the DOJ actually removes it from their AW tracking system, just that they would not be able to enforce all the extraneous BS that goes along with RAW items that are 'de-registered' (in theory) should something run afoul.

Keep in mind, registration is really about registering who is a gun owner - they don't really care about registering the gun itself.

---

[TrappedinCalifornia]

You might want to note this thread...

Deregistering a Bullet Button Registered Assault Weapon

The one guy in that thread indicated that it took '2 years' to get an approval letter.

[MountainLion]

You might want to note this thread...

Deregistering a Bullet Button Registered Assault Weapon

The one guy in that thread indicated that it took '2 years' to get an approval letter.

That's the one I remembered! Thank you for finding it.

To The Gleams point: I do not remember seeing anyone else having successfully deregistered a RAW, but I don't doubt what you're saying; it just means that I missed it (and I think Bill also must have, at least at the time). Thank you for the reminder.

[donalli]

But why?

[MountainLion]

But why?

A few suggestions: To sell it within the state; to have someone in the state inherit it. You also become free of the requirements for transporting registered AWs.

[GOEX FFF]

But why?

A few suggestions: To sell it within the state; to have someone in the state inherit it. You also become free of the requirements for transporting registered AWs.

Or...you're moving out of state and are 100% certain you're never bringing it back. There's zero reason to have it registered in CA anymore.

[smle-man]

I had registered my MAS 49/56 because of the muzzle device. I replaced it with a complying device and de-registered it. DOJ wanted pictures of the rifle and then sent me a letter confirming de-registration.

[PascoePete]

Sounds like SMLE-MAN has done it.
So I think rifles defined by characteristics has a path.

I briefly consulted with a lawyer who thought named rifle converted to single shot (non semi automatic) could be deregistered.
It would be worth hearing more about this.

Peter