AW Registration Guide **3/18/2021 update: Registration may re-open soon**

[Baboosh]

I'm personally interpreting the grace period as being extended for registrants who have not received their letters (most of them) until such time as the letter is received or the application is rejected (formally, via letter). People can read it whatever way they want but that's my take.

Not a good idea. Right now you do not have a Registered Assault Weapon. As of July 1st 2018 that is a felony. There is no grace period for pending registrations nor is there anything in the law granting you exception to the law.

[Lead4bfast]

So from my understanding, while waiting for the AW approval letter, we cannot use those weapons yet?
And, do we have to take those AW apart while waiting for such approval?

[shaocaholica]

Not a good idea. Right now you do not have a Registered Assault Weapon. As of July 1st 2018 that is a felony. There is no grace period for pending registrations nor is there anything in the law granting you exception to the law.

Says who? Am I already a felon? Are you? The honest thing to do is to take all our assembled guns down to the PD and turn ourselves in then.

[silentdude56k]

So from my understanding, while waiting for the AW approval letter, we cannot use those weapons yet?
And, do we have to take those AW apart while waiting for such approval?

The safest thing to do short of moving them out of state is to reconfigure them so that they are not AWs until you have the approval letter(s) in hand. I've simply separated uppers from lowers and put a cable lock through the lowers on my ARs. For my AKs I removed the only AW feature (pistol grip) and put them away separately.

I could have done without the cable locks, legally speaking. Call me paranoid, but I want the chances of my uppers and lowers getting frisky and mating together in the presence of LEOs to be as close to zero as possible. We're talking felonies here.

[CandG]

Says who? Am I already a felon? Are you? The honest thing to do is to take all our assembled guns down to the PD and turn ourselves in then.

The problem is not that anyone says it's an illegal unregistered assault weapon.

The problem is that nobody says it isn't.

DOJ only clarified that we can safely use our registration-in-process guns up to July 1st. They made no mention about what happens after that.

While it's unlikely DOJ would prosecute anyone over a pending application, there is no guarantee that they (or some other agency) won't.

So, as with anything in life, you can do whatever you want... just be aware that it may not be without substantial risk.



The only safe way to ensure you don't run afoul of any laws is to keep your guns disassembled or outside of CA while you wait for confirmation of registration success to arrive in your mailbox.

[lordmorgul]

It is an interesting thought that if DOJ did prosecute anyone for a pending application violation of possession unregistered BBRAW, then their entire process for registration including server uptime before the deadline, throughput of processing and approvals, handling of the denials might all become discoverable to the defense attorney.


Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

[CandG]

It is an interesting thought that if DOJ did prosecute anyone for a pending application violation of possession unregistered BBRAW, then their entire process for registration including server uptime before the deadline, throughput of processing and approvals, handling of the denials might all become discoverable to the defense attorney.

Indeed... I just don't want it to have to be MY attorney

[ladiver]

It is an interesting thought that if DOJ did prosecute anyone for a pending application violation of possession unregistered BBRAW, then their entire process for registration including server uptime before the deadline, throughput of processing and approvals, handling of the denials might all become discoverable to the defense attorney.


Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

For this reason alone, is why I have come to my own conclusion that there will be no prosecutions if you have registered but are still waiting. The state will do everything possible to keep this from the public record, including letting felons go free.

[PG308]

Just got my 2nd kickback from the doj regarding the sig mpx

I had problems with the site when i was uploading pics of my new configuration of OAL. Prolly 3 separate times I got an error trying to submit.

This time it is about my name.

The name you entered on your application does not match our records. Please review the full name you entered, including the suffix. If necessary, correct the appropriate name field (first name, last name, nicknames, or suffix). Please refer to California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 5474(a) for more information: https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/a...let-button.pdf

I have no idea why this happened? Could it have been the suffix? I put SR. on my paperwork. I dont really know why this would happen? Is there something I need to upload like my ID or passport so they can confirm my name? Or use a bill? Im so confused why I got this because my name is filled out correctly on the paperwork.. and this would also mean all my other submissions are in the same boat since the auto fill. GOOD GOD THIS IS NEVERENDING. But I think they accepted my mod for new OAL so thats cool I guess.

[Lead4bfast]

The safest thing to do short of moving them out of state is to reconfigure them so that they are not AWs until you have the approval letter(s) in hand. I've simply separated uppers from lowers and put a cable lock through the lowers on my ARs. For my AKs I removed the only AW feature (pistol grip) and put them away separately.

I could have done without the cable locks, legally speaking. Call me paranoid, but I want the chances of my uppers and lowers getting frisky and mating together in the presence of LEOs to be as close to zero as possible. We're talking felonies here.

Thank you.

I will do exactly the same thing then; separate the uppers from the lowers and utilize cable locks.
I don't want to be a felon for being careless nor for being naive.

[beanz2]

Just got my 2nd kickback from the doj regarding the sig mpx

I had problems with the site when i was uploading pics of my new configuration of OAL. Prolly 3 separate times I got an error trying to submit.

This time it is about my name.



I have no idea why this happened? Could it have been the suffix? I put SR. on my paperwork. I dont really know why this would happen? Is there something I need to upload like my ID or passport so they can confirm my name? Or use a bill? Im so confused why I got this because my name is filled out correctly on the paperwork.. and this would also mean all my other submissions are in the same boat since the auto fill. GOOD GOD THIS IS NEVERENDING. But I think they accepted my mod for new OAL so thats cool I guess.

My guess would be that it differs from the original DROS. Do you keep copies of your DROS? If you entered "Rosco P. Coltrane" into CFARS and the DROS says "Rosco Purvis Coltrane", they would surely kick that back. The problem is matching DROS to CFARS.

Hang in there, they will run out of stuff to ding you. Eventually.

[MustangSteveGT]

Submitted a couple applications at beginning of June. All listed still and 'in progress'. No rejections for correction or any reply communication attempts by email or otherwise.

What is the process behind the scenes at CA DOJ once we submit these? Anybody know? From who to who, what to what, where to where the application goes through?

[beanz2]

It is an interesting thought that if DOJ did prosecute anyone for a pending application violation of possession unregistered BBRAW, then their entire process for registration including server uptime before the deadline, throughput of processing and approvals, handling of the denials might all become discoverable to the defense attorney.


Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

Yup, that would be a risky move for CA-DOJ, but if you were the one popped, that would still be a huge headache. Hope CRPA or NRA would help the guy with his legal costs.

[PG308]

Well I resubmitted when I got home from work and a couple mins later I got an email that says I will get a letter by mail. I am hoping this is a good sign.

The California Department of Justice has received your electronic AB 1135/SB 880 Assault Weapon Registration and will begin processing your submission. You will be notified of the results via U.S. Mail. If you have any questions, please use the Report an Issue feature in the CFARS application https://cfars.doj.ca.gov. For questions regarding your account, please email the Bureau of Firearms at: bofcris@doj.ca.gov

[Syntax Error]

Hopefully that means they've finally accepted your gun. I've found sticking to your explanation if it's obvious that they will eventually accept it. Had a similar situation with caliber marking on one of my FAL Paras, as it was built on Century-imported Argentinean receiver, and there was no caliber marking on the barrel or receiver. They kept asking for a caliber marking, and I told them multiple times in comments back-and-forth that there was no caliber marking. The eventually accepted that explanation.

Similar situation with a gun that I acquired through a PPT, and they asked for the address of the seller, even though I did not have it and buyer's DROS copy blacks that info out for privacy reasons. I insisted I did not have the seller's address and they eventually just accepted it. Both of these guns now have been approved and is listed in my particular RAW letter.