Blog

Common Causes of Delays, Denials, or Undetermined Transactions in California Firearm Purchases

Common Causes of Delays, Denials, or Undetermined Transactions in California Firearm Purchases

Purchasing a firearm in California requires passing a background check through the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process, managed by the state’s Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms. This system verifies a buyer’s eligibility based on state and federal laws, cross-referencing criminal records, mental health flags, and other prohibitions. While many transactions are approved quickly, others can result in…read more →

17 Sep, 2025
Understanding Background Check Processes and Standards Under the NFA and GCA

Understanding Background Check Processes and Standards Under the NFA and GCA

The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 and the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968 form the backbone of federal firearms regulation in the United States. While the GCA focuses on general firearm commerce and prohibits certain individuals from possessing guns, the NFA imposes stricter controls on specific “Title II” items like suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns, and destructive devices…read more →

15 Sep, 2025
Minimum Age to Purchase Firearms in California

Minimum Age to Purchase Firearms in California

California has some of the strictest firearm laws in the United States, with age requirements that generally align with or exceed federal minimums. These laws are governed by the California Penal Code and enforced by the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Below, I’ll break down the key age restrictions for purchasing different types of firearms from licensed dealers (which is…read more →

12 Sep, 2025
ATF Rescinds Controversial Classification of Franklin Armory Firearms: What It Means for Gun Owners

ATF Rescinds Controversial Classification of Franklin Armory Firearms: What It Means for Gun Owners

On August 29, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued an open letter that marks a pivotal moment for firearm enthusiasts, manufacturers, and Second Amendment advocates. The letter officially rescinds the ATF’s 2019 classification of Franklin Armory’s Reformation and Antithesis firearms, following a legal settlement with the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition and Franklin Armory. This decision…read more →

29 Aug, 2025
Understanding California’s Firearm Prohibition Power of Attorney Form (BOF 110)

Understanding California’s Firearm Prohibition Power of Attorney Form (BOF 110)

In California, firearm ownership and possession are strictly regulated, especially for individuals who become prohibited from owning guns due to legal reasons. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) provides a specific form to help such individuals comply with the law: the General Notice of Firearm Prohibition and Power of Attorney for Firearms Relinquishment, Sale, or Transfer for Storage, commonly referred…read more →

22 Aug, 2025
The Legislative History of California’s Current 10-Day Waiting Period on the Delivery of Firearms

The Legislative History of California’s Current 10-Day Waiting Period on the Delivery of Firearms

Currently, California has a 10-day waiting period on the delivery of firearms to the purchaser (Pen. Code §§ 26815(a) & 27540(a)). This applies to private party transfers through licensed dealers (Pen. Code § 27545), imposing the same delay. A review of the legislative history reveals that this 10-day waiting period is neither long-standing nor consistent in application. The legislature’s primary intent was to provide law enforcement time for background checks, driven by manual processes. The “cooling-off” intent to deter impulsive violence emerged only in the 1990s, falsely retroactively attributed via People v. Bickston (1979). With modern instant-check systems, these rationales are outdated.

20 Aug, 2025
Tenth Circuit Strikes Down New Mexico’s Firearm Waiting Period: Implications for Second Amendment Rights and Other States

Tenth Circuit Strikes Down New Mexico’s Firearm Waiting Period: Implications for Second Amendment Rights and Other States

In a landmark decision on August 19, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled against New Mexico’s recently enacted seven-day waiting period for firearm purchases, finding it likely violates the Second Amendment. The case, Ortega v. Grisham, highlights ongoing tensions between state efforts to curb gun violence and individual rights under the U.S. Constitution. This article…read more →

19 Aug, 2025
Understanding FBI Criminal Records: Why Check Them and How to Obtain a Copy

Understanding FBI Criminal Records: Why Check Them and How to Obtain a Copy

What Are FBI Criminal Records? FBI criminal records, often referred to as Identity History Summary Checks or “rap sheets,” are comprehensive documents maintained by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. These records compile an individual’s criminal history, including arrests, convictions, and other interactions with law enforcement that result in fingerprint submissions to the FBI. The records are stored…read more →

15 Aug, 2025
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Challenges Binary Trigger Ban in Landmark Case

Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Challenges Binary Trigger Ban in Landmark Case

Though not a California matter, we thought it was important to share a recent challenge to a firearm component restriction out of Minnesota, as it relates to the current California litigation addressing California’s expanded defintion of “assault weapon” through a similar challengable practice. In a significant legal battle, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus v. Walz case, filed on February 12,…read more →

13 Aug, 2025
The Ninth Circuit’s Second Amendment Resistance: From Silveira to Duncan’s Procedural Maneuvers

The Ninth Circuit’s Second Amendment Resistance: From Silveira to Duncan’s Procedural Maneuvers

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has a well-documented history of resistance to the Second Amendment’s individual rights framework, a pattern that began with Silveira v. Lockyer (2002) and persists despite Supreme Court interventions in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). This resistance…read more →

11 Aug, 2025
‹1234567›»