Gun transportation laws (going to CA)

[Shane333]

On my way to California to see my family for Thanksgiving. I want to bring a rifle (lever action .22) and pistol (.380) in case I get a chance to do some shooting with my dad.

I plan on doing the following while traveling:
1. Guns are stored, unloaded, in a locked case.
2. Ammunition stored seperately in another locked container.

Is this all I need to do? I don't want to break some obscure California law or federal law and get in trouble. Please let me know if there's anything else I need to do.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Shane333-

Sounds like you've got all bases covered; Kali says that a long gun is a "non-concealable" firearm so technically it doesn't need to be in a locked container... and if you believe that I have some beautiful ocean front property near Vegas that you might be interested in!

Lock 'em up and have your ammo seperate and you'll be good to go.

 

[Sunray]

"...shooting with my dad..." Never got that chance, mine was dead before I was old enough. However, if your da has firearms, use those. Less fuss and you get to be the young buck again. You're going to your da's place. You'll still be the kid. In any case, you need to check out the non-resident laws.

 

[moredes]

Be sure the handgun is on the approved list, and that the rifle doesn't fall under CA ASW bans. In CA a loaded magazine is considered a weapon :banghead:, so even if the mags are separate, they have to be unloaded. Like Quarterbore said, lock *all* guns up.

Don't screw up; they're unforgiving, and even if they are 'lenient', it'll be just another expense tacked on top of their gasoline prices.

 

[SoCalGeek]

Actually, I'm pretty sure the approval list doesn't matter in his situation. My understanding is that it only applies to what FFL's can sell, and since he's just visiting and not selling them, he should be okay.

 

[enfield]

I'd be interested in some informed opinions also, as I'm headed to SoCal next month. Plan to take my Sig and would like to take my pre-ban DPMS Lite 16, unloaded, cased, locked, ammo separate, etc. Are 30 round mags legal in the PRK?

 

[deej]

You can bring in any handgun you care to without restrictions, as long as it's not an "assault weapon" (threaded barrel, mag outside the pistol grip, etc.) It does not need to be on the California approved list.

If you are moving to CA, you have to register any handguns you are importing into the state within 60 days.

You can NOT bring in any AW (as defined by California law) or >10rd magazine unless it is already registered in the state of California.

http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/travel.htm

http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/ab991.htm

 

[artherd]

I plan on doing the following while traveling:
1. Guns are stored, unloaded, in a locked case.
2. Ammunition stored seperately in another locked container.

OVERKILL!

1) Only handguns need to be in a 'lockable container'. Rifles/Shotguns can be on your passanger seat. Make sure all guns are unloaded. CA defines 'loaded' as loosely as 'ammunition attached to the firearm', so make sure you unload shell holders and slings that are tied/bolted/cliped on, etc.

Loaded mags that are not attached to the gun are however perfectly fine.

2) Ammunition is not contraband and is not controlled. It can be loose or in magazines, just make sure none are 'attached to' any firearms. Note that 'attached to' would include rounds stuck into a buttstock ammo holder or a shotgun sling.

moredes: Get your S-hit straight please, a magazine is not considered anything but a magazine under CA statute, and it may be fully loaded and sitting right next to an uncased rifle (but it may not be 'attached' to the rifle.) Show me the PC and I will retract.



Furthermore, CA law to conisder:

NO 'assault weapons' (similar to federal AWB, but just 1 'feature' count. So an M1a with a muzzle brake is OK, but you CANNOT add a flash hider!) Any pistol-gripped detachable-mag semi-auto is also out.

CA AWB also bans ANY PISTOL WITH A THREADED BARREL! (including .22rimfires.) so watch out for that.

And NO >10 round mags.

Other than that, you're good to go.

The 'approved handgun list' does not apply to personal import in any form.

 

[Shane333]

Well folks,

Dad has a few firearms, so I decided to take the advice to ask to shoot his. Dad and I have never gone shooting together, believe it or not.

Edited to add:
My pistol magazine holds 13, so that could have been a problem if I understand CA law correctly.

 

[riverdog]

Letter of the Law, that's correct; but figure the odds on anyone counting the rounds in your magazine just don't even joke about selling them when you're here. You can own >10 round mags in CA, but you cannot sell, buy or stock with the intent of selling, eg. no hi-cap transfers. Nobody would look twice at a .22 lever action.

Not a lawyer, not legal advice.

 

[Mark in California]

Everything else looks like you it covered very well, but the high cap magazine. I would not bring it into the state, since it would be a felony violation if caught. Since you do not live here, you would not be able to argue that you brought it here before the ban.

 

[Shane333]

I'm back from California. It was a miracle that I survived getting through the Sierra Nevada.

Anyway, Dad and I didn't go shooting. We had such a busy week, going into San Francisco twice, Thanksgiving, etc, that there weren't a lot of opportunities to go shooting. Finally we had one good day with plenty of time for shooting. I asked my dad and he made a weak excuse to not go. I've come to the realization that we may never go shooting together. It simply isn't on his list of priorities. His guns will sit and collect dust the way they have for the past twenty five years.

One evening I got Dad to talk about old shooting experiences he had and great shots he'd made, but shooting just doesn't seem to be in his blood anymore.

Several years ago, when I was about 25, I asked my dad if I could have one of his .38 revolvers (since he doesn't use them). His response was to ask if I was planning on going into law enforcement. When I said no his reply was that I didn't need such a gun because the .38 is a law enforcement caliber.

I don't know what to do. It could have been a great bonding experience (something we lack) but now I'll have to wait for another chance.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Shane333- I'm so sorry you and your dad didn't 'click' on the gun thing; I can only relate the experience to me and my dad. Dad is a decorated retired Sheriff's Deputy of 32 years, never had to draw his weapon in all those years and still can't figure out why I have so many. Since I don't 'hunt or anything' he just really can't see the point... *sigh* I love you dad, but we'll never see eye to eye on this will we?

 

[Shane333]

QuarterBoreGunner,

Very interesting to read of your dad's background. My dad did 15 years military service (medic) and 5 years as deputy US Marshal. He only had to unholster his pistol once. He was once saved from a mugging by someone with a CCW.

Yet after all this, he just doesn't understand my interest in firearms. He once hinted that I'm doing it to be "macho". A strange suggestion since I'm not at all the "macho" kind of guy. I've never been confrontational and I've never needed to prove my manhood to anyone.

Something must have changed in my dad. He's collected a worthy number of firearms over the years. For some reason he's kept them put away for years and years. It's really strange. I never really knew that he had more than a rifle until I was seventeen, then he finally took out his large collection to show my brothers and me. His rational was that he didn't want us to get curious and go snooping. So he let us see the guns, then put them back into storage to never see the light again.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm just wondering what happened to change my dad's attitude toward guns. It's just sad that I had to go to scout camp to learn about firearms, when Dad could have taught me any number of times if he'd wanted to.