California
| Subject/Law | Long guns | Handguns | Relevant Statutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Permit to Purchase? | No | Partial* | §26500, §12071, §12082 | All firearm sales (except long guns more than 50 years old) must be completed through a dealer. *Handgun purchases require a Handgun Safety Certificate and proof of residency. |
| Firearm registration? | No | Yes | §12025 and §12031 | All handgun serial numbers and sales are recorded by the state (registered) in the Department of Justice’s Automated Firearms System. Long arm serial numbers are not recorded, only the sale. While there is no requirement for California residents to register previously owned handguns or firearms with law enforcement, §12025 and §12031 enhance several misdemeanor offenses to felonies if the handgun is not on file in the Department of Justice’s Automated Firearms System. California §12025 states that handguns must be transported unloaded and in a locked box other than the glove compartment or utility box in a motor vehicle. New residents must register handguns (purchased outside of California) with DOJ within 60 days. |
| Owner license required? | No | No | None | |
| "Assault weapon" law? | Yes | Yes | §12280, §12285 | Illegal to possess, import, or purchase assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles, unless such weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June 1, 1989. Legally defined assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the DOJ must be registered. Their sale and transfer is prohibited. Military look-alike rifles that are not chambered for .50 BMG and are not on the DOJ roster are legal to purchase or possess, with some restrictions in configuration—known as "banned features." Active-duty military members residing out of state and assigned to duty in California may bring personally-owned assault weapons into the state. The military member's residence must be in a state that permits private citizens to own and possess assault weapons, and the firearms must be registered with the California Department of Justice prior to the servicemember's arrival in California by submitting the registration form with a copy of the member's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. |
| Carry permits issued? | Yes | Yes | §12050 | May issue, depending on jurisdiction. County sheriff's or local Police Chief's discretion, many counties are de facto "no-issue," while others are "shall-issue" in practice. CCW permits valid statewide. Out-of-state permits not valid in California. |
| Open Carry? | No | No | §26350 | |
| State Preemption of local restrictions? | Yes | Yes | §53701 GC | Most but not all local restrictions preempted. |
| NFA weapons restricted? | Yes | Yes | §12220, §12020 | Possession of automatic weapons or short-barreled shotguns or rifles prohibited without DOJ "Dangerous Weapons Permit"; permission rarely granted outside of film industry. Suppressors (aka silencers) prohibited. AOW's (Any Other Weapons) permitted, except for "pen guns." |
| Peaceable Journey laws? | No | No | None |
Read more about this topic: Gun Laws In The United States (by State)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)