AOW Exempt From Assault Weapons Law?

[Joaquin_Murrieta]

Greetings,

Is a registered AOW with a tax-stamp exempt from California AW laws? For example, would creating an AOW (with stamp) via a pistol and a forward vertical grip be exempt from the Cali law about having a second grip? If so, does that apply to other AW features, such as a threaded barrels? Thanks.

[ke6guj]

no, there are no known AOW exemptions from the AW laws.

[Joaquin_Murrieta]

Thanks ke6guj. I ask because the Calguns Foundation says the following:

Can an AOW also be an Assault Weapon?
Yes. Properly federally registered AOW's are only exempt from 12020PC, other firearm restrictions still apply.

[Joaquin_Murrieta]

I am also confused how an AOW, which has it's own legal definition, can be subject to pistol regulations.

[ke6guj]

Thanks ke6guj. I ask because the Calguns Foundation says the following:

Can an AOW also be an Assault Weapon?
Yes. Properly federally registered AOW's are only exempt from 12020PC, other firearm restrictions still apply.

there is nothing wrong with that statement. It merely says that AOWs can be considered AWs, not that if it you have an AOW that you can make it it an AW.

[CSACANNONEER]

I am also confused how an AOW, which has it's own legal definition, can be subject to pistol regulations.

It depends on the AOW. Some are, in fact, unconventional handguns.

Also, you are talking about Federally defined AOWs and California defined handguns.

Please note that I did not say "pistol" because, some AOWs may be handguns but not "pistols".

[Joaquin_Murrieta]

I mistakenly interpreted the answer as it was "ok" for an AOW to also be an assault weapon. Thanks for the clarification and quick response.

[ke6guj]

I am also confused how an AOW, which has it's own legal definition, can be subject to pistol regulations.

federal defnitions and state definitions can be the same, but not always. if the feds declare something to be an AOW, it doesn't mean that CA has to declare it the same way since CA has no AOW classification of its own. CA basically says that any firearm with a barrel <16" is to be considered a handgun/pistol even if it could also be considered an SBR or SBS.

[stix213]

Greetings,

Is a registered AOW with a tax-stamp exempt from California AW laws? For example, would creating an AOW (with stamp) via a pistol and a forward vertical grip be exempt from the Cali law about having a second grip? If so, does that apply to other AW features, such as a threaded barrels? Thanks.

You can still bullet button them, depending on the firearm, to avoid AW features issues.