Does Every Handgun Have To Be Registered

June five, 2021 update: On June 4, 2021, a federal gauge overturned California'southward ban on set on weapons on the grounds that it violates the ramble correct to bear arms under the 2d Subpoena. Only assault weapons remain illegal in California while the country appeals the ruling.

You can register an unregistered gun in California past completing and submitting a Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application. This voluntarily declares that you lot are the owner of the firearm. However, this form cannot be used to register an attack weapon.

A FOR Awarding is not required for most firearms. They will have been registered by the dealer during the auction. However, in that location are reasons to register a firearm on your own. A registered gun that is lost or stolen may be returned to the person listed on the form. If the gun is unregistered, it will non be returned.

Submitting a FOR Application could also pb to legal trouble. You could exist accused of possession of an assault weapon. The person who sold or gave you lot the weapon could as well exist charged with illegally transferring a firearm. The form tin can be used equally evidence.

man holding revolver

Yous tin register an unregistered gun in California by filling out and submitting a Firearm Buying Report (FOR) Awarding.

What is the Firearm Buying Report Application?

The Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application is a legal form. It goes to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The grade is likewise known every bit the BOF 4542A. Past filling out and submitting the class, you voluntarily register a firearm. You are declared its legal owner.

To make full out the form, you need to provide data about yourself, including:

your personal and contact information,
where yous were born,
citizenship condition and identification information, including a re-create of your driver'southward license or ID card,
Handgun Safety Certificate number, and
any aliases you lot are known by.

You volition too accept to provide information most the firearm you lot are declaring:

whether it is a handgun or a long gun, and what blazon information technology is,
serial number,
brand and model,
caliber,
origin,
barrel length,
color, and
when and how you acquired it.

There is space for declaring ownership of 3 firearms on each application form. If yous want to declare buying of more than 3, you lot can attach additional copies of the form.

You will have to pay a $xix processing fee for each FOR Awarding.

The form tin can be mailed to:

Department of Justice
Bureau of Firearms – FOR
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203

This form cannot be used to register an set on weapon. Assault weapons generally cannot exist registered in California anymore.

Practice I have to file this application?

No, there is no legal requirement that a firearm has to exist registered unless:

the firearm is an assail weapon, or
you are moving into California and own a firearm.

Handguns that were legally bought in California are already registered. They were registered by the dealer. You are the registered owner of these firearms. Your data was collected during the background bank check.

Long guns that were legally bought in 2014 or later on in California are as well registered. Those bought legally earlier then may not exist.

Firearm owners moving to California have to annals their firearms within 60 days. They employ a unlike form – the New Resident Firearm Buying Form.

What are the benefits?

Submitting a FOR Awarding makes you the official owner of the firearm.

If the firearm is lost or stolen, and so plant, it will be returned to you. If the gun is not registered, there volition be no official owner. It volition non be returned to you if it is not registered.

How can I check to encounter if my firearms are registered?

You can request a list of firearms registered in your name. Yous can get information technology past submitting an Automated Firearms System Records Request Form.

The form has to be:

signed,
notarized, and
accompanied by a re-create of your driver's license or photo ID.

You can mail the form to:

Department of Justice
Agency of Firearms
AFS Private Citizen Asking
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203

What well-nigh assault weapons?

Assault weapons cannot be registered in California, anymore.

State police force set ownership and registration periods for assault weapons. This included Browning Machine Guns (BMG). All of those registration windows have passed.¹

Can I get in legal trouble for filing the form?

Yes.

If you lot claim ownership of an attack weapon, or any illegal weapon for that affair, you could confront charges of illegal possession of a firearm. Attack weapons are illegal to possess in California. But those that were registered during the registration windows are exempt. If you lot make full out a FOR Application listing an assault weapon and send information technology to the DOJ, information technology tin can exist used as prove against you.

Illegal possession of an assault weapon is a wobbler in California. Information technology can be prosecuted as a felony or a misdemeanor.

If prosecuted equally a misdemeanor, a conviction carries up to:

one year in jail, and/or
$1,000 in fines.²

If pursued every bit a felony, the potential jail time is 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years.^three

A FOR Application tin also be used every bit evidence of theillegal sale of a firearm. California law requires that all gun sales be completed through a licensed dealer.⁴ The FOR Application asks how you obtained the weapon. The respond may be used equally evidence that you got the gun illegally. The person who sold or transferred the gun could be charged with a criminal offense.

Illegally selling a firearm is a misdemeanor. The penalties can include upwards to:

6 months in jail, and/or
$1,000 in fines.

Legal References: