(GENERAL How Does Registration Work thread)

[CandG]

I figure that as long as they continue processing applications after the deadline (that were submitted before the deadline), I don't care if my AW's are felonious in the interim timeframe, I'll just render them not-semi-auto while I wait for my letter.

[caliguy93]

I used to think the same thing, but the consensus is that interpretation is not accurate, what matters is that DOJ receives your application before the deadline.

Kind of like (but I realize not exactly synonymous with) how your income tax filing isn't late, regardless of when it arrives at the IRS and gets processed, as long as it's postmarked before April 15th. The key factor being that YOU did YOUR job before the deadline.

I agree that the penal code wording is vague and open to interpretation, though. But hopefully the consensus opinion is correct. I believe CRPA's interpretation is also that the form just needs to be submitted before midnight on 7/1/2018.

Another reason that is the sensible interpretation, is because 7/1/2018 is a sunday. So if the deadline was for DOJ's actual approval of the registration, the deadline should have actually been June 29th.

If people catch felonies after trying to register before the deadline, DOJ dragged their feet approving the registration and it turns out the deadline was actually for approval rather than submission, there are going to be big problems for everyone, especially DOJ.



Next time someone speaks with DOJ on the phone, we should ask them this exact question, to settle this once and for all. Maybe even get the answer in writing (I know I know, never going to happen...)

The tax scenario differs since you are required to file by April 15. The word "file" is not equal to "registers" in each of their relative arenas.

If the person messes up on a photo, or enters the serial number wrong or for some other reason gets denied after July1, 2018, I'd find it an impossible task to argue that they are exempt for AW laws because they registered before July 2018 and that's all the law required. It's the outcome of submitting the form that makes you "registered" for the purpose of the penal code, as the alternative would give the exemption to anyone who applied to register any weapon regardless of if they did it right or wrong


And just like the Vol reg form, your 80% isn't volregd until you get the approval letter from the DOJ

[CandG]

The tax scenario differs since you are required to file by April 15. The word "file" is not equal to "registers" in each of their relative arenas.
...
And just like the Vol reg form, your 80% isn't volregd until you get the approval letter from the DOJ

I don't disagree... it's sketchy. Hopefully we can get an actual firm answer on this though, since even the our lawyers don't seem to know for sure.

If the person messes up on a photo, or enters the serial number wrong or for some other reason gets denied after July1, 2018, I'd find it an impossible task to argue that they are exempt for AW laws because they registered before July 2018 and that's all the law required. It's the outcome of submitting the form that makes you "registered" for the purpose of the penal code, as the alternative would give the exemption to anyone who applied to register any weapon regardless of if they did it right or wrong

Yep, if the registration gets outright denied after 7/1, you're hosed. Definitely not a good idea to wait until the last minute, for that reason. If it gets delayed (pending clarification or additional info from you) then you'd probably be ok - but it's risky. I wouldn't want to cut it that close, I'll probably be submitting my registrations around 2-3 months before the deadline.

Right now DOJ doesn't have a system in place to approve anyone, so it's still impossible to guess how long the approvals will actually take once they do have that system in place - but however long people are reporting that it's taking DOJ to process, will dictate how far in advance I submit my app (plus an extra month or two for wiggle room). YMMV

[caliguy93]

I don't disagree... it's sketchy. Hopefully we can get an actual firm answer on this though, since even the our lawyers don't seem to know for sure.



Yep, if the registration gets outright denied after 7/1, you're hosed. Definitely not a good idea to wait until the last minute, for that reason. If it gets delayed (pending clarification or additional info from you) then you'd probably be ok - but it's risky. I wouldn't want to cut it that close, I'll probably be submitting my registrations around 2-3 months before the deadline.

Right now DOJ doesn't have a system in place to approve anyone, so it's still impossible to guess how long the approvals will actually take once they do have that system in place - but however long people are reporting that it's taking DOJ to process, will dictate how far in advance I submit my app (plus an extra month or two for wiggle room). YMMV

If history serves me correct, anyone who got delayed dros response before 2017 was not allowed to take delivery on their bullet buttoned firearm after 2017. To expect a different result with regards to registration beyond the deadline due to a delay or a correction would be grossly negligent imho

[mshill]

If history serves me correct, anyone who got delayed dros response before 2017 was not allowed to take delivery on their bullet buttoned firearm after 2017. To expect a different result with regards to registration beyond the deadline due to a delay or a correction would be grossly negligent imho

Yep, It appears that the DOJ will squeeze us both on the front end (delay response to registrations) and the back end, effectively making the registration period 6 months in stead of 12 (or the 18 that they will claim that we had from 1/1/17).

[CandG]

^ Agreed - it's not a good idea to assume that registrations submitted before the deadline and processed after the deadline will be honored. Hopefully we can get this matter settled somehow so we can know one way or the other.

If it's the worse of the two possibilities, then there are going to be a LOOOOOT of people who get screwed... basically everyone who doesn't follow calguns closely and waits until the last minute to register, which knowing human nature, is most people.

[caliguy93]

^ Agreed - it's not a good idea to assume that registrations submitted before the deadline and processed after the deadline will be honored. Hopefully we can get this matter settled somehow so we can know one way or the other.

If it's the worse of the two possibilities, then there are going to be a LOOOOOT of people who get screwed... basically everyone who doesn't follow calguns closely and waits until the last minute to register, which knowing human nature, is most people.

Yep, which brings me back to my first point... if your registration is not approved by 7/31/18 at 11:59pm, my money is that you are SOL and do not meet the elements for AW law exemptions

[CandG]

Yep, which brings me back to my first point... if your registration is not approved by 7/31/18 at 11:59pm, my money is that you are SOL and do not meet the elements for AW law exemptions

But there's still a lot of time to figure out if that's the case or not, so I'm not jumping to conclusions that that's how it'll be yet. I'm sure we'll know for sure soon. But in the event that we never know one way or the other, then yes I'd definitely err on the side of caution

[Discogodfather]

^ Agreed - it's not a good idea to assume that registrations submitted before the deadline and processed after the deadline will be honored. Hopefully we can get this matter settled somehow so we can know one way or the other.

If it's the worse of the two possibilities, then there are going to be a LOOOOOT of people who get screwed... basically everyone who doesn't follow calguns closely and waits until the last minute to register, which knowing human nature, is most people.

In Connecticut a few years back they did the same thing, they had a deadline and many people rushed at the end to register. Thousands of applications were received but never processed, and the law was equally worded so vaguely that some felt they had proof they registered (but were not approved) and others felt there was no approval so no registration. I think this issue is still in the courts, totally unresolved for years.

For me, the deadline for registration is however long it takes for the first round of registration to process, then subtract that number from July 1st, 2018. So if it takes them 8 weeks to approve, then I would put on my calendar that May 1st, 2018 was the real deadline.

We know from Brown's rider budget bill that they asked for funds to keep the reg people going for 2.5 years. That's encouraging in the sense that they probably might be planning on accepting but then processing after the deadline, but I would not count on these people to do anything in our interests ever. I'm sure the culture in that office and among their handlers making it as hard as possible to register and finding any excuses to not register is going to be rewarded.

[CandG]

Thanks for that info Disco, I didn't know that about the budget bill asking for 2.5 years of funding, that's interesting.

I may try to email DOJ BOF soon and see if I can get an answer from them about this in writing.

[robertkjjj]

In Connecticut a few years back they did the same thing, they had a deadline and many people rushed at the end to register. Thousands of applications were received but never processed, and the law was equally worded so vaguely that some felt they had proof they registered (but were not approved) and others felt there was no approval so no registration. I think this issue is still in the courts, totally unresolved for years.

Sure, they had that mandatory registration in Connecticut back in 2013. But, approx. 85% of their AR-15 owners IGNORED the new law and refused to register.

Of course, unlike CA gun owners, the ones in CT still actually have balls.

[robertkjjj]

Nope.. they send letters first.. it's the cheapest method and will get a lot of people terrified into turning them in.

Then they will send a second set of letters to really scare people... then they send local law enforcement to people doors. Tell them to surrender the firearms on their list. If for some reason they can not come up with said firearms, they place you in handcuffs and search your home for them.

Isn't that how they did it for the sks debacle and Katrina?

You have a wonderful imagination. It's very charming.

[robertkjjj]

Same here. My RAWs will be as assaulty as they can possibly be, after I register. The assaultier the better

That will make it far easier for the CA DOJ agents to spot them, when they pound down your doors and saw open your safe and come to take them, 5 years to the day after you register them.

[CandG]

That will make it far easier for the CA DOJ agents to spot them, when they pound down your doors and saw open your safe and come to take them, 5 years to the day after you register them.

Lol!! I guess maybe it was a bad idea for me to engrave "really, really assaulty weapon" on my guns too, then. Dangit. 20/20 hindsight

[caliguy93]

That will make it far easier for the CA DOJ agents to spot them, when they pound down your doors and saw open your safe and come to take them, 5 years to the day after you register them.

Lol!! I guess maybe it was a bad idea for me to engrave "really, really assaulty weapon" on my guns too, then. Dangit. 20/20 hindsight

Yea I have tags that label and rank my firearms based on assaultness.

The lowest being table assalt, then assault water, sea assault, pure sodium chloride being the highest level of assualtyness

that way they know to grab the saltiest assault weapons in there first