I'm New Here - Retired LEO Question

[Dresden]

I just heard about this remarkable forum . . . So, I have started a new project in the city of Anaheim. My corporate housing location is in a neighborhood that I would describe as sketchy, urban planners would call it "transitional". I've decided I will carry back and forth from Denver to CA. I have a valid LEOSA permit from the Department where I retired.

Now on to the good part.

I approached a Deputy at John Wayne International Airport and explained that I was retired and wanted to know about carrying handgun legally in California.

I told him I was particularly interested in magazine limits and legal firearms, as I had the impression that CA has restrictions and I didn't want to run afoul of the law. I also said that if he wasn't comfortable advising me, I would be happy to call his firearms permitting or legal office for further information.

His first response was, you can't carry legally in CA. He had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned that I had an HR218 or LEOSA permit, valid in every state, that allows me to carry a firearm. Hmmmm. Says I need to call the main number for the Sheriff's Office and ask whoever answers the phone.

He then went on to say that when he retires he won't be able to carry anywhere other than in his County, because his Department won't issue the kind of permit that I have. Clearly, he is clueless, disinterested and hopes that I will go away . . .

So before I call the Orange County CA Sheriff's Main Number and speak to the first receptionist who picks up the phone, I thought I would ask this august body of knowledge if anyone can tell me:

Am I subject to magazine capacity limits, and if so, what are they?
Where do I go to find out if my P229 or P239 are on the list of approved semi auto's.
May I carry extra magazines on my person?
May I carry hollow point ammunition in my pistol or on my person?
Do I have to "register" or otherwise notify LE in the City where I primarily carrying my firearm?
Do I have to inform a police officer if I contact them, or if they contact me that I am carrying?

I am just a little chagrined that I ran into a deputy who was clearly clueless and DGS about this.

[lone shooter]

There is a section for calguns LEOs that would be better suited to ask your questions rather than posting here for the general populous to answer.

Good luck.

[colossians323]

no (if you owned in California before the 2000 ban, or before your Leo retirement in cali, capacity is 10 otherwise)
if you already own it does not apply
yes
yes
no
no

Welcome to the forums

[lone shooter]

BTW, I assume you retired from the force in Denver? You'll soon learn how restrictive California can be.

[Nor*Cal]

no
if you already own it does not apply
yes
yes
no
no

Welcome to the forums

I am pretty sure he is subject to the magazine capacity limits of CA. He would be importing high capacity magazines into the state if he has magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

[colossians323]

I am pretty sure he is subject to the magazine capacity limits of CA. He would be importing high capacity magazines into the state if he has magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

Yes, sorry should have clarified if he owned them in Cali before the ban

[P5Ret]

Am I subject to magazine capacity limits, and if so, what are they?
Where do I go to find out if my P229 or P239 are on the list of approved semi auto's.
May I carry extra magazines on my person?
May I carry hollow point ammunition in my pistol or on my person?
Do I have to "register" or otherwise notify LE in the City where I primarily carrying my firearm?
Do I have to inform a police officer if I contact them, or if they contact me that I am carrying?

I am just a little chagrined that I ran into a deputy who was clearly clueless and DGS about this.

Yes you are subject to mag capacity of 10 rounds as a non-resident of the state you can not bring larger than 10 round capacity mags in to the state. There is no exemption for retired LE, only active officer's from outside CA. on official duty are exempted.

Yes you can carry extra mags.

The "roster of safe guns" only applies to sales from a dealer. Has no effect on possession.

Yes hollow points are good to go, there is some debate about San Francisco as they have a city ord, but I'm sure you can guess how often city ord's get enforced in a short handed large department with other issues to deal with.

No you don't have to register with anyone.

Do you have to inform if contacted. When you were working if you contacted someone carrying did you want to know? You don't have to say anything but it may be in your best interest to say something beforehand.

You'd be surprised at how many active officer's have no clue about HR218. I think part of it stems from the state doj dragging their feet to come up with a statewide qualification standard, and general apathy at the top end of some agencies.

[RickD427]

Please check out the LEOSA "sticky" in the LEO forum. There's a lot of good info in there.

If you meet the LEOSA requirements, you're good to carry in California. There is no additional permitting required (in fact the text of LEOSA would seem to prohibit any additional permitting requirements. The state of Hawaii seems to differ and we're waiting for a test case).

I would be very careful with large-capacity magazines. The text of LEOSA can easily be read to permit them, however the Federal DOJ has issued guidance otherwise and their guidance has been repeated by the NRA, FOP and other organizations. I wouldn't want to be the test case.

Are you sure that you spoke to a Deputy Sheriff at John Wayne Airport? I visit that airport a lot and rarely see a Deputy Sheriff there. I do see quite a few Orange County Sheriff's Security Officers in that airport. Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and Security Officers both wear a departmental uniform, carry weapons, and wear badges. Unless you read the text of the individual's badge, you could easily mistake a Security Officer for a Deputy Sheriff. The Security Officer does not possess LEOSA status and is dependent on an agency issued CCW permit (along with agency restrictions) if they wish to carry off-duty, or after retirement.

[BigPimping]

California is a whole new animal. Welcome to CG.

[Dresden]

Thanks everyone.

I'll head on in and check out the LEO forum. I stopped in here, kind of like hitting the service desk at Cabelas. Yep, retired from a large urban SO in Colorado and Rick, I think I may have assumed the Officer at John Wayne was a Deputy. Patches, uniform and name tape suggested Deputy. He had a windbreaker on with a star and I didn't read it to discern if was a Sheriff's Security Detail or a Deputy.

Anyway . . Thanks for the good information and kind welcome. I'll be moving on now.

[Dresden]

Retired CO LEO - Carrying in CA Questions

I started in the CA Pistols forum and was referred to this subforum. I can already tell I am going to like nosing around in here . . . So, I have started a new project in the city of Anaheim. My corporate housing location is in a neighborhood that I would describe as sketchy, urban planners would call it "transitional". I've decided I will carry back and forth from Denver to CA. I have a valid LEOSA permit from the Department where I retired and I carry my Retired ID Card as evidence of my service. I qualify every June . . . so I have a newly minted LEOSA card every year. I have looked at the LEOSA sticky here.

Now on to the good part.

I approached a uniformed officer at John Wayne International Airport and explained that I was retired and wanted to know about carrying handgun legally in California.

I told him I was particularly interested in magazine limits and legal firearms, as I had the impression that CA has restrictions and I didn't want to run afoul of the law. I also said that if he wasn't comfortable advising me, I would be happy to call his firearms permitting or legal office for further information.

His first response was, you can't carry legally in CA. He had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned that I had an HR218 or LEOSA permit, valid in every state, that allows me to carry a firearm. Hmmmm. Says I need to call the main number for the Sheriff's Office and ask whoever answers the phone. I have learned that I may not have been talking to a Deputy, but a County Security Officer. That's news, but now I understand more about his ambiguous responses.

He then went on to say that when he retires he won't be able to carry anywhere other than in his County, because his Department won't issue the kind of permit that I have.

So before I call the Orange County CA Sheriff's Main Number and speak to the first receptionist who picks up the phone, I thought I would ask this august body of knowledge if anyone can tell me:

Am I subject to magazine capacity limits, and if so, what are they?
I think I am limited to 10 round magazines, so I will stick with the P239
Where do I go to find out if my P229 or P239 are on the list of approved semi auto's.
I don't think this is an issue.
May I carry extra magazines on my person?
I believe that I can, so long as they are only ten round magazines
May I carry hollow point ammunition in my pistol or on my person?
Apparently this is not an issue
Do I have to "register" or otherwise notify LE in the City where I primarily carrying my firearm?
I don't have to do this
Do I have to inform a police officer if I contact them, or if they contact me that I am carrying?
Legally, I am not obligated, however, I would also say that if I am pulled over or otherwise contacted, I would always tell another police officer my status

So have I covered the basics? Are there any other "gotchas" in California that I want to avoid. All I am looking to do is carry my P239 .40 S&W and one additional magazine concealed on my person.

[ArcherDog]

I just heard about this remarkable forum . . . So, I have started a new project in the city of Anaheim. My corporate housing location is in a neighborhood that I would describe as sketchy, urban planners would call it "transitional". I've decided I will carry back and forth from Denver to CA. I have a valid LEOSA permit from the Department where I retired.

At least you have credentials. My company has me traveling to "transitional" portions of San Fran and Oakland every week from Seattle and I'm stuck with carrying a Leatherman in case things go sideways.

[Librarian]

Threads merged - I moved the original here ...

[JohnCCW]

Oh boy- there are lots of gotcha's in CA- The fact you have no schooling on CA laws is a big liability.

I would take a class with a licensed CA firearms instructor just to get up to speed on the crazy laws we are subjected to here.

You could learn a lot from this forum, but I wouldn't rely on this, or consider it adequate information.

[mxadam579]

were in anaheim is sketchy