AR-15's and California

[sygyzy]

Does anyone know the current situation involving AR-15's, removable mags, lower receivers, etc in CA?

 

[Nebor]

Here ya go, enjoy.

 

[sygyzy]

Nebor - Thanks for the link. I was going to read it when I got home but was hoping for a quick summary!

 

[mwmorph]

1st post from the thread linked above.

2005 Dangerous Weapons Control Laws:

http//ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/index.html

If the weapon is not sitting on your dealers shelf you probably can't buy it.

 

[JonTheBaller]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Nebor - Thanks for the link. I was going to read it when I got home but was hoping for a quick summary!

Quick Summary: California sucks

 

[Kilgor]

Dang I didn't think California was that bad about gun control. My question is have all the gang members and criminals turned in thier weapons. 🙂

 

[amddude]

CA has draconian weapons laws...can't even own a police baton, those little lead filled snaps...stuff that's really not that serious. Wait until they pass that new law that mandates pistols to imprint the gun info on the casing. That way, gangsters can go to a shooting range, grab some shells, litter them at a scene...

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Nebor - Thanks for the link. I was going to read it when I got home but was hoping for a quick summary!

Quick Summary: California sucks

That didn't take long. Thanks Jon.

 

[soydios]

Automatic rifles are illegal in California.
Semiautomatic rifles may not have a magazine larger than 20 rounds, and the magazine may not have a quick-release (you have to unscrew several screws to remove the magazine). As far as I know, the intent of this law is to prevent someone going on a rampage with an assault rifle.
As a California resident who enjoys having his fun with guns, I don't have a problem with the California laws. 18 is fine for owning shoulder-stock weapons (rifles and shotguns), and 21 is fine for concealable weaopns (pistols). I won't be buying a gun until after college (no way I'm leaving a shotgun at home with my parents).

 

[schneiderguy]

cows are going to take over earth next week :Q

 

[JonTheBaller]

Originally posted by: soydios
Automatic rifles are illegal in California.
Semiautomatic rifles may not have a magazine larger than 20 rounds, and the magazine may not have a quick-release (you have to unscrew several screws to remove the magazine). As far as I know, the intent of this law is to prevent someone going on a rampage with an assault rifle.
As a California resident who enjoys having his fun with guns, I don't have a problem with the California laws. 18 is fine for owning shoulder-stock weapons (rifles and shotguns), and 21 is fine for concealable weaopns (pistols). I won't be buying a gun until after college (no way I'm leaving a shotgun at home with my parents).

1. Machine guns aren't illegal in Cali. It looks like you need some special permission from the state on top of filling out the standard ATF paperwork and paying the $200 tax.

2. 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun is a law at the Federal level.

3. That magazine restriction law is pure stupidity. The other ~48 states don't have any prolbems with "assault rifle rampages."

If you were serious about purchasing a gun, especially an AR-15, you would hate your state's gun laws more than I hate my state's.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller

Originally posted by: soydios
Automatic rifles are illegal in California.
Semiautomatic rifles may not have a magazine larger than 20 rounds, and the magazine may not have a quick-release (you have to unscrew several screws to remove the magazine). As far as I know, the intent of this law is to prevent someone going on a rampage with an assault rifle.
As a California resident who enjoys having his fun with guns, I don't have a problem with the California laws. 18 is fine for owning shoulder-stock weapons (rifles and shotguns), and 21 is fine for concealable weaopns (pistols). I won't be buying a gun until after college (no way I'm leaving a shotgun at home with my parents).

1. Machine guns aren't illegal in Cali. It looks like you need some special permission from the state on top of filling out the standard ATF paperwork and paying the $200 tax.

2. 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun is a law at the Federal level.

3. That magazine restriction law is pure stupidity. The other ~48 states don't have any prolbems with "assault rifle rampages."

If you were serious about purchasing a gun, especially an AR-15, you would hate your state's gun laws more than I hate my state's.

California, despite having said laws, is the only state with any sort of gun-toting rampage of any real note.

 

[shortylickens]

I hope you guys dont mind me correcting you, but I was stationed in CA at the end of my Navy career and did buy a few guns. I also spoke with the local dealers at length about the laws.

In CA, they have 3 conditions that make a rifle an assault weapon. They are not entirely related to the Federal rules.

1. Flash supressor or silencer (and its amazing what they consider a flash supressor)
2. Detachable box magazine
3. Pistol grip

If they gun has more than one of those conditions (two or more) then its not legal in CA. The one exception I know about is for rimfires of .22 caliber or less.
I found that out when I saw a Walther G22 rifle in the store one day.
And I got it. http://www.umarex-m.ru/upload/148_s.jpg
(I dont have a scope.)
Weapons that qaulify as pistols can have the pistol grip and removeable magazine.

For those who want to argue the laws with me, these are the laws that my local dealer abided by. Many is the time I went in and asked for guns that have violated the above conditions and he said "nope, we cant have that here".

Also, any gun maker that wants to sell their weapons in CA has to go through an approval process. Some of them dont even want the hassle and dont bother selling their items there.
I think Kel-Tec is one. Just about everything they make would be legal in CA except they dont want to get it approved. They make their money in the other 49 states.

As an amusing side note, the ban on 50 BMG's only actually prohibited one weapon from being sold. The single-shot Barret. Everything else was already illegal because of the conditions.
Gun haters and gun lovers alike wondered what the hell Arnold was thinking.

 

[Pocatello]

If California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the US, it must be the safest state in the country since all the criminals couldn't get their hands on dangerous weapons such as the AR-15.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Pocatello
If California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the US, it must be the safest state in the country since all the criminals couldn't get their hands on dangerous weapons such as the AR-15.

Need help.
Sarcasm meter broken.

 

[everman]

It's great to have these strict laws, now we don't have criminals using guns to commit crimes anymore here in The People's Republic of California. <arnold accent implied>
Don't even have people sneaking over the border since it's illegal.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing


California, despite having said laws, is the only state with any sort of gun-toting rampage of any real note.

Who would have thought that a criminal would break the law in order to commit a crime? It's unthinkable!

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, in reference to the OP's post, I believe its the Lower reciever that has the serial number, so its the lower reciever that has to be registered. But thats difficult in CA.
There are some circumstances that allow you to have them, but I dont know what they are.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: Pocatello
If California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the US, it must be the safest state in the country since all the criminals couldn't get their hands on dangerous weapons such as the AR-15.

Need help.
Sarcasm meter broken.

You don't even need a meter for that one...

IMHO, Cali's problems with guns are more a function of population density and heterogeneity than gun control (or lack thereof).

 

[sygyzy]

I can't believe that in 18 (?) replies, only one was useful and that was just a link to the AR-15 website. Thanks again guys.

 

[ardenJ]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I can't believe that in 18 (?) replies, only one was useful and that was just a link to the AR-15 website. Thanks again guys.

I would've thought that someone would have known about this AR-15 Offlist situation and already helped you out.

You'll want to read this http://www.calguns.net/a_california_arak.htm . Basically, if you purchase an off-list lower (a model not on this list at http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf ), theoretically, you can build it up as long as it doesn't violate CA penal code 12276.1 ( http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/12275.htm ).

If you read SB23 (http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/regs/sb23.htm ), it states that "a "detachable magazine" means any ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with neither disassembly of the firearm action nor use of a tool being required." So by using a kit to fix the magazine via an set screw or nut, technically, you're in compliance with SB23 since you'll have to use a tool (an allen wrench) to remove the mag.

So, you buy a lower that is off list. Then you buy something to lock a 10 round mag (anything more than 10 rounds is illegal) and a mag lock kit such as the one at http://www.tenpercentfirearms.com/index...?main_page=product_info&products_id=61. You load the rifle by popping the upper open.

Or you can have a removable mag, but your rifle can not violate SB23, so you won't be able to have a pistol grip, flash hider, forward pistol grip, or collapsible stock. If you want to go gripless, you can buy an SRB at http://www.srbtactical.com/ or a MonsterMan Grip at http://www.tenpercentfirearms.com/index...main_page=product_info&products_id=146

Keep in mind, that the California DOJ is thinking about passing new regulations which would make it illegal to have an offlist AR even WITH the mag locked in, so you may be forced to go gripless.
After you've read all this, I suggest you check out the Calguns.net forums http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/ .

 

[ardenJ]

Originally posted by: soydios
Semiautomatic rifles may not have a magazine larger than 20 rounds, and the magazine may not have a quick-release (you have to unscrew several screws to remove the

It's actually 10 rounds. The only way you can have a magazine larger than 10 rounds is if you already had it before the ban. Also, the magazine CAN be removable if you don't have a pistol grip, flashhider, collapsible stock, or forward pistol grip, such as an M1A, Mini 14, SU-16, etc.