If you’re moving to California or have recently made the Golden State your new home and are a firearms owner, you might be wondering about the rules and regulations regarding the transportation and registration of your firearms. California has strict firearm laws in place, and it’s important to understand the requirements to ensure compliance with the law. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with the answers to common questions regarding bringing firearms to California and how to properly register them.
Bringing Firearms to California: What You Need to Know
1. Reporting Your Firearms
As a new California resident who owns firearms, you are considered a personal firearm importer under California law. The good news is that you can bring your California-legal firearms with you when you move. However, it’s crucial to follow the proper procedure.
Within 60 days of establishing residency, you must report all your firearms to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) using the New Resident Firearm Ownership Report, also known as BOF 4010A. You’ll need to fill out one form for each firearm you’re bringing into the state.
2. Restrictions on Ammunition-Feeding Devices
While you can bring your firearms, California law prohibits the importation of ammunition-feeding devices with a capacity greater than ten rounds. This means that if any of your magazines have a capacity exceeding ten rounds, you cannot bring them into California. It’s essential to review your firearm accessories and ensure compliance with this restriction.
3. Machine Guns and Assault Weapons
Another important point to note is that you cannot bring machine guns or assault weapons into California under any circumstances. These firearms are strictly prohibited, and attempting to import them can result in severe legal consequences.
4. Required Processing Fee
To complete the firearm registration process, you’ll need to include a $19.00 processing fee. Make sure to make the check or money order payable to the Department of Justice. After filling out the necessary forms and gathering the fees, you can mail your registration to the following address:
Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms-NR, P.O. Box 820200, Sacramento CA 94203-0200
This should only be a one-time fee, regardless of how many firearms you declare. Reminder, you WILL have to fill out a report form PER firearm.
5. Additional Resources
For detailed information on the registration process and to access the required forms, you can refer to the official California Department of Justice document titled “Firearms Ownership Report (BOF 4010A).” This document provides step-by-step instructions and further clarification on the registration process, ensuring you follow the correct procedure. You can access the document here: Link to BOF 4010A.
Check out our FAQ page for more gun-related questions.
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