How Do I Register My Guns

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Welcome to the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms

The Agency of Firearms serves the people of California through education, regulation, and enforcement actions regarding the industry, sales, ownership, condom training, and transfer of firearms. Bureau of Firearms staff volition exist leaders in providing firearms expertise and data to police enforcement, legislators, and the full general public in a comprehensive program to promote legitimate and responsible firearms possession and apply by California residents.

Attention

Beginning December 1, 2021, applicants must electronically submit a Police force Enforcement Release (LER) application for the return of firearm(s), ammunition, and/or ammunition feeding device(due south) via the California Firearms Application Reporting Organisation (CFARS). Applicants that practice not already have a CFARS business relationship volition be required to create an account in order to directly communicate with the Section and to cheque the status of an application.

The Department volition no longer accept newspaper LER awarding (BOF 119) submissions. Paper applications received via US mail, UPS, FedEx., etc., postmarked later on Nov 30, 2021, will exist returned unprocessed with instructions on how to submit the application via CFARS.

For additional information regarding the Police Enforcement Release process, please refer to Information on the Constabulary Enforcement Release Plan webpage. For more information about CFARS, please visit the Firearms Reporting & Law Enforcement Release Awarding webpage.

"Other" Assault Weapon Registration

Penal Code section 30900, as amended, required any person who, prior to September 1, 2020, lawfully possessed an attack weapon as divers by Penal Code section 30515 subdivision (a) paragraphs (ix), (10), and (eleven), and was eligible to register an assault weapon every bit set forth in Penal Code section 30900, subdivision (c), to submit an awarding to the DOJ to annals the firearm earlier January ane, 2022. The regulations for the Other Assault Weapon Registration are available on the Firearms Regulations/Rulemaking Activities webpage. For more information regarding "Other" Attack Weapons, visit the "Other" Assault Weapon Information page.

Registration is at present airtight. Any applications, whether submitted electronically or through the mail, should have been submitted during the registration period beginning October 1, 2021 at 9:00 AM PST through December 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM PST. Registration applications received or postmarked subsequently Dec 31, 2021 will not be accepted.

Delight Notation: The "Other" assault weapons registration is Not affiliated with or an extension to previous registrations, including the "SB 23" and "Bullet Button" assault weapons registrations.

UPDATE REGARDING Large Chapters MAGAZINES

On Baronial 14, 2020, a iii-approximate panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court conclusion in Duncan v. Becerra. The appellate ruling does not lift the stay that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra secured at the commencement of the appeal. The stay remains in place until the appellate process is final. This allows California'southward well-nigh twenty-year-onetime prohibition on the acquisition of new large-capacity ammunition magazines to remain in effect pending further appellate proceedings.

In California, it has been illegal since 2000 to manufacture, import, keep or offer for auction, requite, lend, or receive large-capacity magazines—defined as those that tin agree more than 10 rounds of ammunition. On March 29, 2019, the Commune Courtroom for the Southern Commune of California ruled that this police force was unconstitutional. Attorney General Becerra asked the judge to stay his ruling awaiting entreatment to prevent the influx of big-capacity magazines into the land while litigation is ongoing. This asking was granted. Every bit a outcome, every bit of 5:00 p.m. on April 5, 2019, California Penal Code section 32310(a) and (b) went back into upshot and they remain in effect until farther action by the appellate court:

"(a) Except as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 32400) of this affiliate and in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division two of Title 2, whatever person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for auction, or who gives, lends, buys, or receives whatsoever large-capacity mag is punishable by imprisonment in a canton jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170."

"(b) For purposes of this section, 'manufacturing' includes both fabricating a magazine and assembling a mag from a combination of parts, including, but not limited to, the body, spring, follower, and floor plate or end plate, to be a fully performance large-capacity magazine."

Firearms and Ammunition Purchaser Information

Nether Penal Code section 28220(f)(4), the Department of Justice (DOJ) has up to 30 days to consummate groundwork checks on firearms purchasers. Prior to the COVID-xix pandemic, DOJ typically completed these checks inside Penal Code Section 26815(a)'southward 10-day waiting period. COVID-19 protective measures have impacted the ability to increase the personnel resources in the DROS unit to address the recent sustained increment in firearms and armament transactions without compromising the health and safe of our employees and the community. As a outcome, firearms and ammunition dealers and purchasers should know that as DOJ employees continue to perform the statutorily required background checks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, circumstances may compel that background checks are completed later the expiration of the 10-day waiting flow for firearms purchases. DOJ volition go on to strive to provide the all-time service and complete these checks in the shortest fourth dimension possible.

Law Enforcement Release (LER)

Pursuant to Senate Bill 746 (Stats. 2018, ch. 780), effective July ane, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is required to regulate the render of ammunition and ammunition feeding devices in the custody of a court or police enforcement agency. All individuals who wish to have the same items returned, must first receive approval from the DOJ. For more data regarding this process (including submission requirements and fees), please refer to the Police Enforcement Release Plan webpage.

Additional Documentation Requirements for Eligibility Checks with Federal Non-Compliant California Commuter License or Identification Cards

Constructive July 1, 2019, new regulations will exist in result that apply to all eligibility checks. A re-create of the applicant'due south California driver license, identification bill of fare, or out-of-state driver license, if applicable, shall be submitted with the application/written report, as specified pursuant to California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4045.1, subdivisions (d)-(chiliad). If the bidder presents a federal non-compliant California commuter license or identification menu with the notation "Federal Limits Apply" on the front end, boosted documentation establishing lawful presence in the United States volition also exist required (Cal. Code Reg., tit. eleven, § 4045.1, subd. (b-c)).

For more information, please refer to the Additional Documentation Requirements for Eligibility Checks with Federal Non-Compliant California Driver License or Identification Cards, pdf.

Ammunition Purchase Authorization Program

Effective July one, 2019, persons seeking to buy or transfer ammunition volition accept to undergo an eligibility check, and be canonical past the Department, prior to the auction or transfer, except equally otherwise specified. Departmental approval shall occur electronically through a licensed armament vendor.

For more than information please visit the Ammunition Buy Say-so Program webpage

DROS Processing Advisory

Please be aware that Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms staff is prohibited past law from discussing an applicant's criminal tape or mental health information over the phone. Staff also cannot provide legal communication or offer information relating to the various legal steps needed to restore firearms rights. (California Penal Lawmaking section 11105 and Welfare and Institutions Lawmaking section 8103, subdivision (e)(3).)

What you should practice

If your DROS application is Delayed, Undetermined, Rejected, or Denied

Delayed
Undetermined
Rejected
Denied

Delayed

A DROS application can be delayed for many reasons. Near often it is because the background check found a record matching your personal descriptors (such equally your name, appointment of birth, etc.) and more than time is needed to verify that the tape is yours and to obtain missing information needed to determine your eligibility to own or possess firearms.

Please be patient and permit the Section enough time to get together boosted information and resolve any issues. The Department will notify the firearms dealer to delay the transfer of a firearm to a purchaser if the Section is unable to make up one's mind the purchaser'due south eligibility within the 10-day waiting period. Many county courthouses are operating on shortened work weeks and with fewer staff, delaying the blessing or denial of applications. If the record is an out-of-state or military record, you should anticipate a longer response time from our role to get the needed data. If thirty days has passed since the transaction date and the Department is nonetheless unable to make up one's mind the purchaser'due south eligibility to own/possess firearms or whether the firearm involved in the auction/transfer is stolen, the Department will notify the dealer.

If you believe there is a discrepancy in your eligibility to own/possess firearms, you tin can obtain a copy of your California record by completing the Request for Alive Browse (BOF 8016RR) form located on the Department'south website: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms. You lot should review the tape, identify any incomplete or missing court information, and so follow up with the court where your instance was held and request the courtroom submit corrected information to the DOJ's Bureau of Criminal Data and Analysis (BCIA). If you disagree with whatsoever information in your tape, y'all should follow the instructions in the letter for disputing inaccuracies. You may wish to obtain an attorney for legal advice and who tin all-time represent your interests on how to restore your rights to purchase firearms.

Undetermined

The California Section of Justice (the Section) is authorized by Penal Lawmaking section 28220 to temporarily delay a firearm transaction for up to 30 days from the appointment of transaction when the Section is unable to immediately determine the purchaser'due south eligibility to own/possess firearms. If 30 days has passed since the transaction date and the Department is still unable to determine the purchaser's eligibility to own/possess firearms or whether the firearm involved in the auction/transfer is stolen, the Department volition notify the dealer. It will then be at the dealer'south sole discretion whether to release to you the firearm.

If you believe there is a discrepancy in your eligibility to own/possess firearms, you tin can obtain a copy of your California record past completing the Request for Alive Browse (BOF 8016RR) course located on the Department's website: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms. You should review the tape, identify any incomplete or missing court data, and then follow upwardly with the court where your case was held and request the court submit corrected information to the DOJ'due south Bureau of Criminal Information and Assay (BCIA). If you disagree with any information in your tape, you should follow the instructions in the letter for disputing inaccuracies. Yous may wish to obtain an chaser for legal advice and who can all-time represent your interests on how to restore your rights to buy firearms.

Rejected

At that place are 2 mutual reasons why a DROS application may be rejected:
(i) y'all attempted to buy more than ane handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle in a thirty-day menstruation (California Penal Code department 27540, subdivision (g)); or,
(2) yous attempted to purchase a firearm with an invalid, suspended, revoked, or expired California commuter's license or California identification card (California Penal Lawmaking sections 16400 and 26815).

In the case of a 30-twenty-four hour period handgun or semiautomatic centerfire burglarize purchase restriction, yous cannot effort to buy more than one handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle in a 30-day period. If i of your transactions was a individual-party transfer or pawn redemption, you lot need to check with the dealer to make sure the correct transaction type was selected when the transaction was submitted to DOJ.

In the case of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) rejection, your application was rejected based on information provided to u.s.a. by the California DMV. Y'all must contact the DMV to make sure your California driver's license or California identification card information is current and correct.

Denied

If your DROS application is denied, y'all will receive a letter from the DOJ Bureau of Firearms within two weeks. The letter will explain the reason and instructions on how to get a copy of the tape that resulted in the denial of your application. In that location will likewise be instructions on how to dispute and correct information in your tape you believe is incorrect. DOJ staff cannot hash out your record over the phone. Therefore, information technology is recommended that you lot go a copy of your tape and follow the instructions for disputing inaccuracies. You may also wish to retain an attorney for legal advice and who tin can best represent your interests on how to restore your rights to buy firearms.

If your DROS application was denied based on a Federal Brady prohibition (e.g., out-of-state conviction, illegal/unlawful alien, armed forces dishonorable discharge, out-of-country mental health tape, etc.), you can appeal the denial of your application directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Instant Criminal History Background Cheque Arrangement (NICS). When discussing your situation with NICS, yous must include the NICS Transaction Number (NTN) associated with your firearm purchase as referenced in the denial letter sent to you by the DOJ Agency of Firearms. You tin entreatment directly to NICS past downloading the NICS appeal brochure and following the instructions found at NICS Appeals page.

General Information

Firearms Fees, pdf
Information Bulletins (Including Firearm Legislation)
Forms and Publications
Firearm Condom
Transporting Firearms in California
Firearms Data for New California Residents
Police Enforcement Release Data
Unique Serial Number Application (USNA) Process

Assault Weapons, Olympic Pistols, and Subversive Devices

Assault Weapons Identification Guide, pdf - Currently Under Revision
Roster of AK and AR-15 Serial Weapons, pdf
Senate Bill 23 Assail Weapon Characteristics
Exempt Olympic Pistols, pdf
Public Notice - Zastava SKS Carbines are Considered Destructive Devices

Handgun and Laboratory Certification

Laboratories Certified to Test Handguns
Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale

Safe Devices, Laboratory Certification, and Gun Safe Standards

Roster of Approved Firearms Safety Devices
Laboratories Certified to Test Firearms Condom Devices
Gun Prophylactic Standards

Firearms Dealer Data and Tools

CA Firearms Dealer DROS Entry Organisation Access
Country Exemptions for Authorized Peace Officers
DROS Stats 1972 - Present, pdf
DROS Cyberspace Process Frequently Asked Questions

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