How to Own a Gun & Stay Out of Jail - California 2010 edition

List of changed pages
Significant Changes From 2004 to 2006
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DOJ background check fee now $25.

Proof of residency requirements to receive handgun finalized.

“BB device” includes guns that expel nonmetallic pellets.

No guns in “sterile areas” of passenger vessel terminals.

Imitation guns: can’t display in public places or brandish.

Certain single-shot pistols exempt from unsafe handgun law.

Federal “large capacity ammunition feeding device” ban
repealed.

Olympic target pistols exempt from assault weapon ban: list
of manufacturers expanded, but specific models not listed.

Each assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle treated as a separate
offense for violation of possession and other laws.

Federal assault weapon ban expired.

.50 BMG rifles are treated as assault weapons.

Entertainment Firearms Permit: section added.

Procedure for return of seized or stolen guns: section added.

Private party transfer using a small county sheriff’s
department repealed.

Immediate family gun transfer exception requires transferee
to be at least 18 years old to receive handguns.
Significant Changes From 2006 to 2007
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Page 187
Lying in register of sales is now a felony/misdemeanor if applicant is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Court ruling: Public sidewalk in front of residence is not private property for purposes of exception to school zone law.

Court ruling: Self-defense rules apply to attack by an animal.

Court ruling: “Machine gun” includes gun which can be restored to auto fire through hours of work by skilled person.

Semi-auto, centerfire pistols must have both loaded chamber indicator and mag disconnect to be submitted for testing.

DOJ proposed regulations will treat guns with temporarily-fixed mags as guns with detachable mags for features ban.

Attorney General can no longer add guns to assault weapon list by going to court.

New civil court procedure for illegal assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles allows for fine and confiscation.

New website for Gun Law Press: www.gunlawpress.com.
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Page 188
Violation of Section 246 means lifetime gun ban.

Juvenile crimes added to the “Age 30” list.

Protective order restrictions expanded.

Probation completion doesn’t restore gun rights.

Exception added to Unsafe Handgun Law.

Machinegun permit required for persons transferring machineguns to law enforcement agencies.

First-time assault weapon violator must relinquish weapon.

Assault weapon exceptions for retiring and retired peace officers eliminated by court ruling.

Federal assault weapon ban set to expire in September 2004.

New procedure for checking your firearms eligibility.
Significant Changes From 2003 to 2004
Significant Changes From 2002 to 2003
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Page 9

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Page 190
Background check fee raised from $15 to $20.

Thumbprint required when receiving a gun from a dealer.

Proof of residency requirements for receiving a handgun.

Basic Firearms Safety Certificate program replaced by Handgun Safety Certificate program (extensive revisions).

Safe handling demonstration required to receive a handgun.

Dealers who do not sell handguns are not required to process private party transfers of handguns.

If you lend a handgun, the recipient must have a HSC.

Dealers cannot sell unapproved firearms safety devices.
Significant Changes From 2001 to 2002
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Page 186
Gun lock or safe now required when receiving all guns (details in new Appendix 2 on Page 190).

In 2003, the BFSC will be replaced by a new program.

For prohibited persons, violation of Section 245(c) has been corrected to be 245(d) per change in the law.

Paragraph on taxi drivers clarified.

Note added about possession of short barrel for rifle or shotgun—can’t have both barrel and gun in possession at same time or you will violate short-barrelled gun law.

Tubular magazines contained in lever action guns now exempt from large capacity magazine law.

Flechette darts fin length specification changed.

Introduction to California assault weapon law simplified as a result of court decisions and regulations.

DOJ regulations on assault weapon features added.

“AK series” and “AR-15 series” assault weapons added in 2000 moved from Appendix 2 and integrated into main list.

Assault weapon obtained by peace officer upon retirement can now be lent even if not registered (subject to rules).

“Child” is now anyone under 18 for gun storage laws.

Extra penalty for child carrying your gun to school grounds or school event.

Locking, folding knife must now have detent or other mechanism that provides resistance or biases blade toward handle in order to not be considered a switchblade.
Significant Changes From 2000 to 2001
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Intimidating a witness section added to 10-year prohibition.

Making terrorizing threats added to 10-year prohibition.

Broadened definition of “machine gun.”

New rules for imitation guns; an orange plug in the barrel is no longer sufficient.

“Unsafe Handgun” ban: all guns must be safety-tested before
  being sold; exceptions.

Assault weapon chapter revised to reflect court decisions.

Olympic target shooting pistols are not assault weapons; list.

Revised to reflect court decisions.

No assault weapons on public land such as BLM, forests.

Discussion of modifying your assault weapon revised.

Penalties for unlawfully brandishing a gun revised.

AK “series” and AR-15 “series” of assault weapons clarified by the addition of 67 rifles to the assault weapon list.
Significant Changes From 2007 to 2008
None.  
Significant Changes From 2008 to 2009
Page 125 For prohibition on display of an imitation firearm in public places, "public places" includes public schools, and public or private colleges and universities.
Significant Changes From 2009 to 2010
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Page 130
Exception added to "one handgun a month" law for POST-certified community colleges for law enforcement training.

Transferring ammunition to a minor who you should know is prohibited from possessing ammunition is a misdemeanor.

Reminder that open carry CCW license holders may only carry in their county of issuance.

Box cutters and razor blades are prohibited in schools & colleges.

Gun possession allowed in National Parks if it’s permitted under California law and you follow all other laws. California CCWs are now effective in National Parks in California.

Section 12370 body armor law is under review by the courts.