Buying handguns in California can be a tricky process. Here is a guide to help you take the first steps into handgun ownership.

In order to purchase a handgun, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Identification, age verification, and proof of residence
2. Firearms Safety Certificate
3. Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS)
4. Background check / 10-day waiting period
5. Safe handling demonstration
6. Proof of ownership of a safe or lockbox, or purchase an approved Firearms Safety Device (a lock, lockbox, safe)

You will need 2 proofs of residency, your drivers license or ID can count as one. All documents must have the same name and address.

• California driver’s license, or ID (REAL ID – See next section if you do not have a REAL ID)
• Utility bill from within the last 3 months
• Current DMV Disabled Placard
• Current DMV Vehicle registration
• Notarized Rental/lease agreement
• Notarized Mortgage documents
• Notarized Property deeds
• CA CCW permit
• Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
• Curio & Relic (C&R) Federal Firearms License (03 FFL)

If your drivers license or ID is does not match your current residential address, then you will need two documents from the above list that are not your ID and you'll need at least one of the following:

• Tax bill
• Vehice Registration
• Voter Registration
• Anything issued by a Government agency showing your current address

If your drivers license or ID is not a “real ID” or states “Federal Limits Apply” on the top right corner of the front of the card, then you will need one of the following:

• Certified copy of your birth certificate
• Current/Valid Passport or Passport Card
• US Immigrant visa or I/94 Document
• Certificate of Naturalization or US Citizenship

Peace officers, including reserve and retired peace officers, may present valid credentials issued by a California law enforcement agency in lieu of the other required residency documentation. This consideration is given to peace officers who do not want to provide documentation of their residential address for security reasons and who otherwise do not object to having their credentials copied by the firearms dealer for inclusion with the DROS record. Peace officers may have the dealer associate remove his/her residential address from the DROS transaction and include his/her agency address.

You will need to hold a valid firearms safety certificate. If you do not have one, you can generally take a test at any gun store. The test is 30 questions, and you must score at least a 75% to pass (23/30). If you fail, you can take the test again at the same place after 24 hours have passed. The test incurs a $25 fee, and is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.

There are many exemptions to needing the FSC, please see the list below:

• Military – Active Duty or Reserve
• Military – Honorably Retired (DD-214)
• Law Enforcement – Federal and State
• Retired Law Enforcement – Federal and State
• Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit Holder
• P.O.S.T. 832 PC (Firearms) Training
• Licensed Armed Security Guards

Prior to releasing the firearm to you, you must complete a safe handling demonstration. This can be performed either on the day you start your paperwork, or on the day you pick up, depending on the dealer’s procedures. The dealer will perform the safe handling demonstration, and you will be asked to repeat the demonstration.

SAFE HANDLING DEMONSTRATION TIPS

• Always follow the 4 safety rules
• Try to keep the gun pointed in the safest direction possible. This means not pointing at you, not pointing at the dealer, and not pointing at other staff or patrons in the surrounding areas
• Keep your finger off the trigger, unless the demonstration warrants doing so (it should not)
• Feel free to ask questions, or ask the dealer to repeat the demonstration if you are unclear of the procedures

At this stage, the dealer will start your paperwork, collect and verify all documents, make copies, and take a thumb print. Both you and the dealer will be filling out relevant parts on the form 4473, which is an ATF document. In California, the DROS fee is currently $37.19. This fee is paid on top of any sales taxes, and does not include the $25 FSC test if one is needed.

DROS NOTES

• Your DROS will be sent to the CA DOJ for processing.
• The DROS will be used to run your background check.
• The DROS will also serve as your “registration”. The DOJ will make a registration entry based on the information from your DROS
• You may only DROS ONE new firearm within 30 days
• You may DROS multiple firearms on one DROS fee (in this case, PPT firearms)

Although it may only take a few minutes to run a background check, California imposes a waiting or “cool off” period of 10 days. This is 10, 24-hour periods that must pass before you can take possession of your firearm. You have 30 days from the time of the sale, or when the DROS is submitted to pick up your firearm. That means you have 20 days after your initial pick up date, otherwise the sale is cancelled, and you will need to start a new DROS process.

BACKGROUND CHECK / 10-DAY WAIT NOTES

• Be mindful of your dealer’s hours, make sure they are open on your pick up date
• Allow for a full 240-hour period from the date and time marked on your DROS paperwork. A dealer cannot release the firearm until the DOJ has cleared the background check, and a full 240 hours have elapsed
• During times of panic or high-demand, these checks have been known to be extended to an unknown amount of time.

In order to release a firearm, the dealer must verify that the buyer owns a California DOJ approved firearms safety device. This can mean a safe, a lock box, or a firearm locking mechanism like a cable lock. You must show proof, such as a receipt. If you do not have a Firearms Safety Device, and the model of firearm you purchased does not include one, then you will be required to buy one from your dealer.

Buying ammunition has become a convoluted process, but it can be easy if you have what you need. Even so, it may not guarantee that you will be able to walk out of the store with ammunition.

The “standard” check is the best route if you have all of your affairs and records in order. It will cost an additional dollar, and a few extra minutes. You will need to have ID and meet the criteria below.

• California driver’s license, or ID (REAL ID – See next section if you do not have a REAL ID)
• At least one firearm registered under the same address as your ID.
• Any handgun purchased after 1990 will be registered, but it must be at the same address as the provided ID.
• Any long gun purchased after 2014 will be registered, but it must be at the same address as the provided ID.
• If you meet any of the above, then your eligibility check should complete between 1-3 minutes.
• If it fails, or you do not meet the criteria above, you will need to do a “Basic Eligibility Check” outlined below.

NON-REAL ID / FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY

If your drivers license or ID is not a “real ID” or states “Federal Limits Apply” on the top right corner of the front of the card, then you will need one of the following:

• Certified copy of your birth certificate
• Current/Valid Passport or Passport Card
• US Immigrant visa or I/94 Document
• Certificate of Naturalization or US Citizenship

A “basic” eligibility check can be used if you do not meet the criteria for a standard check, or if your standard check fails.

• The dealer will take down all of your personal information and enter it into the AFS system
• This check can take up to 10 days
• If the check is denied, you will be notified by mail.

AVOIDING THE BASIC CHECK

To avoid defaulting to the basic check, you can take a few steps.

• You can update an existing registration or register an unregistered firearm at https://cfars.doj.ca.gov/ the process is free, but the site is hard to use and prone to errors. You will want to take note of your new username as they will not send you a confirmation email.
• Adding or updating a new record to the CFARs Site is free
• There will not be a listing of your current firearms registration for you to view, so you will not know if a certain firearm has already been registered.
• Buy a new gun – buying a new gun will certainly ensure that you have a new and valid AFS (automated firearms record)

If you have any additional questions, or special circumstances, LAX Ammunition has a comprehensive Q&A page relating to purchasing ammunition.

California handgun laws are among the most restrictive in the country. There are a lot of regulations pertaining to the ownership, transfer, sales, storage, transport and use of handguns. Due to the hostile political environment of anti-gun legislators in California, gun laws are constantly changing. This guide is not legal advice or counseling. Additional research is recommended to ensure the accuracy of the posted content due to the ever-changing legislative and political landscape.

While there is no limit on how many handguns you can own, unless exempt (Law Enforcement), you may only purchase 1 new handgun within a 30-day period. Private party transfers (also conducted at a firearms dealer) are exempt from this limitation.

California legislation has severely limited the options we have access to in California. As a California resident, you are able to choose from a minuscule “roster” of “safe” handguns. The state prohibits the sale of “unsafe” handguns to citizens if the handgun fails to pass any of the tests or lacks any requirements stipulated within the penal code.

Some of these tests include:

• A drop safety requirement (PC 31900)
• A firing requirement (PC 31905)
• Or fails to meet any of the requirements stipulated in PC 31910 which includes magazine disconnect requirements, loaded chamber indicator requirements, or non-existent microstamping technology.

A full list of the roster and search tool can be found on the California Department of Justice Website

Most ammunition is allowed to be purchased in California. Standard ball ammunition, hollow-point ammunition are the most common types of legal ammunition. Prohibited ammunition include armor piercing, explosive or flechette dart, and tracer or incendiary

Generally, you are able to own and possess any magazine designed for your pistol with a capacity of 10 rounds or less. Furthermore, you are able to own, possess and use what the state calls “large capacity magazines”, or any magazine which can accept more than 10 rounds. However, you cannot legally manufacture, import into the state, keep for sale, or offer or expose for sale, or give, lend, buy, or receive large-capacity magazines per PC 32310. It is also important to note that currently, section (d) and (c) of PC 32310 are currently enjoined (barred) from enforcement pending judicial proceedings. It is also important to note that during judicial proceedings of a pending case (Duncan v. Becerra) a ruling determined that PC 32310 was unconstitutional and the entire section was enjoined from enforcement. However, the state quickly requested a stay of the judgement, pending appeal of the decision. During this period between March 19, 2019 and April 5th, 2019, it was legal for law abiding citizens to manufacture, import into the state, keep for sale, or offer or expose for sale, or give, lend, buy, or receive large-capacity magazines. This resulted in an influx of millions of magazines into the state which are now legally owned and possessed. There has been in recent development, a couple instances where people have been arrested for possession of large capacity magazines (June 2020). The outcome of those arrests and subsequent cases have yet to be determined at the time of this writing.

You should always keep safety in mind when keeping guns in the home. There is no legal requirement to keep guns unloaded or locked inside your own home. However, there are legal requirements to make firearms inaccessible to children or prohibited persons in the home (PC 25100). When there are children, or prohibited persons in the home, you can be charged with criminal storage of a firearm if the child or prohibited person gains access and causes injury as a result, so it is generally best practice to secure firearms when children or prohibited persons are present.

When transporting your handgun, you have to be sure to abide by the state’s laws. The rules governing the transport of handguns can be found in PC 25610

which states that a handgun must be kept in a locked container. A locked container can be any container that can be locked with a padlock, key lock, combo lock, or similar locking device. It can be a lockable trunk of a vehicle, but not a locking glove or utility compartment . A trunk is defined as an fully enclosed compartment not accessible from the passenger compartment. That means if you have a hatchback, SUV, wagon, or any vehicle that does not have an isolated trunk, you must transport the firearm within a separate locked container inside your vehicle.

The handgun must be unloaded. Unloaded means that there is no round in the chamber, and a loaded magazine is not attached to the firearm. You can keep loaded magazines, as long as they are not attached, or inserted into a firearm. You can also keep ammunition, magazines (loaded or not) within the same container as the firearm. There is no law stating that ammunition or magazines need to be in locked containers.