Expanding to California

[coppery]

Hey y'all. Name's Dan, I'm from PA, and new here. I had a question that I posted at our states forum, but seeing as it pertains to California, was referred here.

Not that I am permanently moving back(used to live in L.A) but we are opening a new business and will have residence cause hotels can be expensive.

Anyway, my question is that Cali has the waiting period. Obviously when we live their it would be nice to have a gun for protection, but all my guns are covered in red tape as far as California regulations are concerned, and I don't feel like converting and regulating $5000 worth of arms to have at a temp resident for business trips.

If we buy a gun here(Glock, Revolver...), is it legal to send it over to Cali, and does it have to go to a dealer, and if it does, do you have to submit to the waiting period to pick it up. Keep in mind, the gun(s) in question would be left in California, just were bought from PA.

I read what I have to do to make it legal i.e send a form to the DOJ to let them know whats coming in.

[Librarian]

If you have any of the ordinary handguns - Glock, Sig, 1911, etc - you can just bring one (bring only mags that are 10 rounds or fewer). You can't carry, of course, and transport requires unloaded in a locked case, but the handgun Roster applies to buying from a CA dealer, not to possession.

[coppery]

So to be clear, I can buy a G21 with a couple 10 rounders, fill out the DOJ form, and just mail it to the residence in California.

[Lone_Gunman]

Why mail it? Just bring it with you.

[fiddletown]

[1] You may not legally mail a handgun. You must ship it UPS or FedEx.

[2] You may only ship a handgun interstate to (1) an FFL; or (2) yourself.

[3] UPS and FedEx rules require that handguns be (1) declared verbally; (2) shipped at a hub/main office; and (3) shipped overnight with adult signature required.

[4] So if you are shipping a handgun to yourself, there will need to be an adult you trust to receive it. That person must not open the parcel and will need to keep it safe for you.

[5] If you plan to leave a handgun behind at your California residence, it would be prudent and responsible to make sure you have secure storage for it.

[Librarian]

So to be clear, I can buy a G21 with a couple 10 rounders, fill out the DOJ form, and just mail it to the residence in California.

Why mail it? Just bring it with you.

Indeed - airline transport is reputedly no big deal. Just carry your favorite back and forth. The locked case TSA requires does double duty as the locked case CA requires for transport.

Unless you are relocating to CA, no forms to DOJ are needed; your OP says you're going to be travelling here on business, not moving to CA.

[coppery]

Hey, thanks for the advice guys. Helps alot.

[dwtt]

When I went from CA to VA, I just carried the guns with me on the airline, and you can do the same. As stated above, since you are coming here temporarily for business and not relocating, you don't have to fill out a DOJ form and register your glock. Just remember to bring only 10-rd magazines. Also, any license to carry concealed from outside of CA is not valid

On a side note, if you are expanding your business to CA, have you considered the tax ramifications? If you ever take up residency in CA, the Golden State sees it appropriate to tax all of your income no matter where you live. So your income from PA will get hit by CA's claim on your money. Don't become a CA resident if you can help it. I assume you will be travelling back and forth between CA and PA, so you will not be able to use the Safe Harbor provision of CA's tax laws. Also, CA is a community property state so if you or your spouse were to gain CA residency, both of you will get hit with CA taxes even if only one of you made money in CA.

[Divernhunter]

Just do not try to bring it on the plane in your carry-on. They frown on that.

[coppery]

When I went from CA to VA, I just carried the guns with me on the airline, and you can do the same. As stated above, since you are coming here temporarily for business and not relocating, you don't have to fill out a DOJ form and register your glock. Just remember to bring only 10-rd magazines. Also, any license to carry concealed from outside of CA is not valid

.

Sounds good. I am considering just that. Actually I already have a 1911, I was just thinking of buying a Glock and using it as an example. My only issue is the trust factor in the TSA and the airline for not screwing up and loosing or "loosing" my property.

Also, what would be the case of bringing along an AR-15. Obviously it aint CA compliant. My mags are 25 rounders, do I have to leave them here?

[Librarian]

Sounds good. I am considering just that. Actually I already have a 1911, I was just thinking of buying a Glock and using it as an example. My only issue is the trust factor in the TSA and the airline for not screwing up and losing or "losing" my property.

Also, what would be the case of bringing along an AR-15. Obviously it aint CA compliant. My mags are 25 rounders, do I have to leave them here?

That would be importing an assault weapon, a felony, and importing large-capacity magazines, also chargeable as a felony (though not necessarily). I wouldn't do that.

[coppery]

then i guess the trp operator will be my only friend coming with me, that is if i build up enough fate to gamble a $1600 gun to baggage handlers. i have a double flight on the way back, and have heard some horror stories of changeovers.

[Librarian]

Out there in the Free States, I suspect that G21 costs a lot less, although the 10-round mags seem to cost more than the 13s.

If it gets lost, I know you'd be annoyed and miss it, but it's just a Glock. (and I say that as a happy Glock owner.)

[fiddletown]

...I suspect that G21 costs a lot less,...

If it gets lost, I know you'd be annoyed and miss it, but it's just a Glock. ...

To paraphrase an old Abbott and Costello bit (and with apologies to those two worthies -- may they rest in peace):

Costello: I'd rather have a Glock than a 1911.

Abbott: Why's that? A 1911 has a lot of advantages.

Costello: Well I could be out in the wilderness one day and drop my 1911 in a lake.

Abbott: That makes no sense. If you had a Glock, it could fall into a lake too.

Costello: Sure, but who'd care?