Overview of the Unsafe Handgun Act California’s Unsafe Handgun Act, enacted in 2001, is a cornerstone of the state’s firearm regulation framework, designed to enhance public safety by restricting the sale and manufacture of handguns deemed “unsafe.” The Act requires handguns sold commercially in California to meet specific safety and performance standards, ensuring they are reliable and equipped with features…read more →
Are you passionate about collecting firearms but frustrated by the hassle and restrictive limitations imposed by California law? This article is designed to assist you in lawfully collecting firearms while mitigating some of the drawbacks of California’s burdensome firearm laws. How? Holders of a Type 03 Federal Firearms License (FFL) for Curios and Relics (C&R) in California are granted specific…read more →
California’s multiburst trigger activator law, codified in Penal Code Sections 16930 and 32900, bans the manufacture, importation, sale, transfer, or possession of devices that enhance the firing rate of semiautomatic firearms to mimic rapid or automatic fire. A “multiburst trigger activator” is defined as any device that enables a semiautomatic firearm to discharge two or more shots in a burst…read more →
What is the California Entertainment Firearms Permit? The California Entertainment Firearms Permit is a license issued by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms under California Penal Code Section 29500 et seq.. It authorizes individuals, such as prop masters or armorers, to receive temporary transfers of firearms and blank ammunition from licensed dealers or prop houses for use…read more →
In the context of U.S. firearm laws, a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a critical document primarily used in California to verify an individual’s legal eligibility to purchase, possess, or handle firearms or ammunition under both state and federal regulations. Issued by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms, the COE serves as a formal clearance that confirms…read more →
In California, the term “consultant-evaluator” in the context of firearm laws refers to a consultant or evaluator who, in the course of their profession, is loaned firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer for research or evaluation purposes and holds a current Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued pursuant to California Penal Code section 26710. These individuals are granted specific exemptions…read more →
Overview of the Law Under Penal Code section 11106, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains the Automated Firearms System (AFS), a centralized database recording firearms purchased or transferred through licensed dealers, registered assault weapons, self-reported firearms, Carry Concealed Weapons Permit records, and law enforcement-entered records. The ability for individuals to request their AFS records is facilitated through regulations in…read more →
Overview of California Bill AB 165 California Assembly Bill 165, effective January 1, 2022, allows individuals to request a copy of their criminal history record from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Personal Firearms Eligibility Check (PFEC) program, as outlined in California Penal Code section 30105. This law enables you to verify your eligibility to purchase or possess…read more →
Moving to California as a firearm owner comes with a mandatory legal obligation to register firearms with the state. California’s stringent gun laws require new residents to register their firearms within a specific timeframe, a mandate that is often overlooked, leading to potential legal consequences. This article outlines the mandatory firearm registration requirement for new residents, the statute of limitations…read more →
Introduction When a firearm is seized by law enforcement in California, retrieving it can be a complex process governed by specific state laws. California has established clear procedures for the return of firearms, but challenges often arise due to local agency policies or misunderstandings of the law. This article provides a step-by-step guide to the law enforcement gun return process,…read more →