California C&R License

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Bullwinkle

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Does anyone know if an average citizen in CA can obtain a C&R license? This assumes that the license applicant is already legally able to purchase firearms from a CA FFL. Thanks.
 
I don't live in CA at the present, nor will ever again, but as I understand it: Yes, you can get a C&R. However, there are additional restrictions on what you may obtain and how they are transferred, depending on the item in question.

Empire Arms, a dealer in such arms, has a guide here: Special regulations for California C&R

Good luck.
 
bullwinkle, I had a C&R for six years (two 3-year licenses) that I let expire this past May. Made good use of them, mostly to buy Garands and Mosins. At the time (prior to 2015?), long guns would be delivered right to your door (that was nice).

If you go to CalGuns.net and look in the C&R forum, I think you will find the updated answer. Getting the FFL-03 should not be a problem - its usefulness, as someone noted above, will depend on what you plan to do with it.

My partial update (which may well have been overtaken by yet more idiotic CA gun laws), is that now you need both the FFL-03 AND a Cert. of Eligibility (COE) from CA (a stupid additional duplicative bit of paperwork plus fingerprints) to receive long guns directly, and not through an FFL-01 (regular dealer). The C&R, and the C&R/COE combo, also may give you some other benefits, including exemption from the frequency of purchase restrictions (1 in 30 days, or whatever it is, for handguns), and (I think) exemption from the new, disastrous ammunition infringement (if it survives the "courts"). Certain vendors such as Brownells also give nice discounts to C&R holders.

But as you see I have only partial, possibly dated info. Gave up the C&R because I was sort of done with my milsurp purchases, as far as I could tell. If I end up getting another Garand or maybe a Springfield, the cost of a transfer/DROS at the cheapest local FFL is not that much more than the cost of the C&R/COE combo, so no big deal.
 
An 03 FFL is a license issued by the federal government (specifically ATF). There's nothing in California law which could prevent a California resident from obtaining an 03 FFL from ATF.

However, as noted there are provisions in California law which could limit the utility of an 03 FFL.
 
An 03 FFL is a license issued by the federal government (specifically ATF). There's nothing in California law which could prevent a California resident from obtaining an 03 FFL from ATF.

However, as noted there are provisions in California law which could limit the utility of an 03 FFL.
That is simply wrong Frank.

One of the stipulations of getting an FFL is complying with ALL local and State regualtions, so YES, there are state and local regs that could keep a resident of Cal ( or any other state for that matter ) an FFL
 
That is simply wrong Frank.

One of the stipulations of getting an FFL is complying with ALL local and State regualtions, so YES, there are state and local regs that could keep a resident of Cal ( or any other state for that matter ) an FFL
Frank is correct that there is nothing in California law that would prevent a resident from getting a license.
There was some talk on ARFcom a few years ago about the New Jersey State Police attempting to arrest and prosecute C&R FFL holders for being illegal firearms dealers, but that was apparently resolved. This is about California though, and no law prevents a resident from getting a license.
 
There are no CA laws that prevents a CA resident from obtaining a C&R (Type 03) FFL.

Under CA laws/regulations...

A CA resident with just a valid C&R FFL is limited to the following activity:

They are able to travel to another State, acquire a C&R firearm, and bring it back to CA. Within 5 days of returning to CA, they must report the acquisition to CA DOJ BOF (this process will register the C&R firearm to the CA resident). [PC 27565]

A CA resident with a valid C&R FFL and a valid CA DOJ Certificate of Eligibility (COE) can do the following:

They are able to travel to another State, acquire a C&R firearm, and bring it back to CA. Within 5 days of returning to CA, they must report the acquisition to CA DOJ BOF (this process will register the C&R firearm to the CA resident). [PC 27565]

They are able to acquire C&R long guns inside CA without having to utilize a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27966]
This allows them to have C&R long guns shipped directly to them and for them to acquire C&R long guns from non-FFL dealers inside CA via cash & carry. Within 30 days of acquiring a C&R long gun, they must report the acquisition to CA DOJ BOF (this process will register the C&R long gun to the CA resident).

They are exempt from the 10 day waiting period when acquiring a C&R firearm from a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27670]

They are exempt from the 1 in 30 day wait when acquiring a C&R handgun from a CA FFL dealer. [PC 27535(b)(9)]

They are exempt from needing a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) when acquiring a C&R firearm. [PC 31700(a)(6)]
 
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newfalguy101 said:
An 03 FFL is a license issued by the federal government (specifically ATF). There's nothing in California law which could prevent a California resident from obtaining an 03 FFL from ATF.

However, as noted there are provisions in California law which could limit the utility of an 03 FFL.
That is simply wrong Frank.

One of the stipulations of getting an FFL is complying with ALL local and State regualtions, so YES, there are state and local regs that could keep a resident of Cal ( or any other state for that matter ) an FFL
Phooey!

The federal requirement that a licensee comply with state law doesn't prevent obtaining the federal license, although it might make it more difficult. Certainly I know plenty of folks in California with 03 FFLs, and there are a few 001 and 007 FFLs in California as well.

But see Quiet's post 8 for a complete rundown.
 
Swing thanks for the link! Ugh! After reading it, I'm better off using my local
FFL dealer.....too many hoops to jump thru!
 
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