01 Dealer- Assault Weapons import question

[LJ Guns]

I am quite familiar and comfortable with the CA Assault Weapons laws. However, I'm having a hard time finding the answer to this: Is it legal for me to import firearms (let's use an AR for example) that are considered assault weapons by definition? In other words, can I purchase a non-compliant AR from an out-of-state distributor, install a bullet button myself, and resell it? I know it's a challenge to even find distributors that will ship non-compliant rifles to CA, but it can be done. I've come across some different forums that lead me to believe an FFL must have a CA Assault Weapons Permit in order to legally do this, although I cannot find anything in the CA Firearms Laws to support it. Please help...I certainly don't want to flirt with the notion of being an assault weapons importer! If in fact the Permit is needed, a little help and/or guidance as to how to obtain it would be much appreciated. Thanks all.

[ke6guj]

yes, you will need an AW permit to do what you wish. and the yearly cost of the permit is directly related to the number of AWs that go through your books.

[LJ Guns]

Thanks so much for the clarification. Probably best to just buy CA compliant versions until I want to fork over the money for the AW permit

[kemasa]

Yes, it is better to buy a CA version or use a middleman FFL to either take it apart or install a bullet button. A lower is not center-fire nor semi-auto, so it would not be a so-called a-salt weapon.

[LJ Guns]

Got it! Thanks Kemasa.