1 in 30 day handgun exemption for LEO question...

[RCxRC]

1 in 30 day handgun exemption for LEO question...

I spent my tax refund by purchasing two new revolvers online the same day and having them shipped to "my FFL", who also happens to be a co-worker. He has processed several prior purchases for me going back for a few years and seems to be fairly knowledgeable. While he does not use his FFL f/t, I'm guessing he probably does at least a hundred transactions a year (based on how much other co-workers have used him).

This is the first time I have purchased two handguns at the same time through him, and he says "it can't be done". I informed him I did this once before several years ago at Proforce in Brea (two handguns purchased on the same day when they were running a "Glock days" special sale) with no issues other than having to also complete the ATF multi-semi-auto purchase notice form (which shouldn't have to be done for a couple of revolvers).

While he acknowledges that as f/t peace officers we are exempt from the 1 in 30 rule, he doesn't know how to get it to fly in the DES system. According to him, when he tries to check off the "1 in 30..." exemption check box, it only allows him to choose the "...peace officer with 10 day exemption..." option from the pop-up drop-down menu which appears next, which this is not. This is also not a "peace officer / off-roster" purchase, as both revolvers are currently listed on the CA approved handgun list.

From what I can see in the 2017 DES manual I was able to download, it appears this should likely be processed as a "Dealer handgun sale" transaction (NOT "Peace Officer..." --> NO waiting period exemption checked --> "1 in 30 day..." exemption check box checked.

Would / should this not work?

Thanks in advance,

P.S. It did occur to me that he simply didn't want to deal with the headache of the ATF multi-purchase form, but he appears truthful that he has tried to process this through DES and it simply isn't working for him...he is retiring in a few months, closing out his books, and moving to another, more gun-friendly state. It is possible he simply doesn't want anything to deal with other than straight transfers right now. I can wait if I need to, that isn't the issue. Even if he insists on doing one-at-a-time, I just wanted to figure it out and share with him how the transaction might be processed so it would work, potentially saving us a lot of back and forth travel time since we both work and live far apart (different stations).

I searched this forum for any threads related to this particular issue going back 3 years and could not find a clear answer.

The closest thread was here, but it doesn't cover specifics on how to process this type of transaction in DES:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1128511&highlight=30+day

[Burbur]

Your dealer is on the right track, in DES.

When using any of the LEO exempt methods, the system wipes out the 1 in 30 and 10 day wait. If you do not provide a letter, he has to manually calculate and abide by the 10 day wait. When you come back 10 days later, and he goes into the DROS, it will show APPROVED with the DELIVER box.

[ripro75]

If he uses “dealer handgun sale” (don’t use peace officer non-roster), don’t click waiting period exemption unless you have a letter and then click 30-day restriction exemption, it will go through just fine with multiple handguns.

[RCxRC]

Burbur and Placer Tactical,

Thank you. I think the process I laid out and your explanations are basically the same. I've tried forwarding this info but it appears to be falling on deaf ears. It is clear something else is going on and my co-worker simply doesn't want to deal with it. Surprising, since most of his customers are co-workers and others in law enforcement.

There is too much to know when it comes to using one's FFL, and in conjunction with all of this state's laws it is no surprise many have simply given up or moved (which is what our legislators want).

There are other aspects of LEO exemptions and policies that I have also had to explain to other FFL's that they were unaware of. Such as the need to only present a department ID and a state ID; no proof of residency is required (utility bill, vehicle registration, etc). Also, the fact that an officer may opt to use the department's address instead of a residential address to register the DROS'd firearm to. etc etc.

Thanks again!

[taperxz]

Your dealer is on the right track, in DES.

When using any of the LEO exempt methods, the system wipes out the 1 in 30 and 10 day wait. If you do not provide a letter, he has to manually calculate and abide by the 10 day wait. When you come back 10 days later, and he goes into the DROS, it will show APPROVED with the DELIVER box.

Huh?

[kemasa]

Tell him to call the DES contact number, they can tell him.

It sounds like he is trying to do two things at once. There is a waiting period exemption, which doesn't apply without the letter, and a separate click box for the 1 in 30 exemption. He doesn't need to do both.

He doesn't use the DROS entry for LEOs as that is for off-roster, waiting period exempt. For just off-roster, it would be the exempt DROS entry. For on roster it is just click the box.

[RCxRC]

Thank you to each of you who responded

While driving home from work I called Proforce Law Enforcement (Brea), Allstate Police Supply (Pomona), and the LAPRAAC (LA Police Revolver and Athletic Club) Gun Shop to pose this same question. I figured after the responses received here it wasn't that far-fetched at all and I wasn't losing my mind. Sure enough, each shop verified exactly what has been said here. In fact, Allstate said they had DROS'd 8 (yes, eight) handguns at once for someone retiring in a couple of months who wanted to load-up before he lost his exemptions. As best as I can tell, there must be some other, unknown reason why my co-worker does not want to do this as one DROS (fees?)

As I have posted in several other threads here on Calguns, if our Chief's and Sheriff's had stood firm when these law changes started coming down 20 years ago, instead of selling out and hiding behind carve-outs and set-asides for everything, perhaps we wouldn't be dealing with all of this now. Downright embarassing it is...that is why I got an HSC/FSC (for conducting PPT's) and am working on my COE + FFL03 (primarily to avoid the 1 in 30 and ammo restrictions; C&R C&C is a bonus); to avoid embarassment when I am among other gun owners at the shops I visit or meet to do transfers.

In 3 years it will be a moot point when I pull the plug, retire, and move to Utah, where none of this will be an issue. Born and raised here (No Cal) but I don't recognize it at all anymore. I grew up fishing on the Feather River, its tributaries, or Oroville Dam, chasing deer out of our acre-sized back yard in Paradise, and trying to avoid stepping on hordes of quail while walking to school (before the season opened, that is ). Now it makes me want to crawl out of my own skin to be in my home state. G-d, how I miss those days....


Thank you again for your help.

Regards,

[RCxRC]

Problem finally solved....

Well, after pressing my co-worker "one last time" before simply telling him to ship/transfer these two revolvers out to another dealer to handle the DROS, I told him I had received affirmative responses here as well as from several local LE dealers that this could be done. I literally walked through the process with him and lo and behold, it went through. He was incredulous, stating "I didn't know you could do that...". After nearly 1k DROS's in ten years.

He said he has only had to deal with this situation a "couple of other times", and so hadn't researched an "easier way" than making people wait 30 days in between each DROS. Well, now he knows.

Sometimes the customer actually is right :-/....well, with some help from some real Pro's, that is....

Thank you again for all of the help here...Calguns has come through again in a pinch.

All the more reason to get the COE/FFL03, to avoid the same hurdle.

Regards,


RC