How Do I Register My Guns In California

June five, 2021 update: On June 4, 2021, a federal gauge overturned California's ban on assault weapons on the grounds that it violates the constitutional right to bear arms under the 2nd Amendment. Merely assault weapons remain illegal in California while the state appeals the ruling.

Yous can annals an unregistered gun in California by completing and submitting a Firearm Buying Report (FOR) Application. This voluntarily declares that you are the owner of the firearm. Nonetheless, this form cannot exist used to annals an assail weapon.

A FOR Awarding is not required for most firearms. They will accept been registered by the dealer during the auction. All the same, there are reasons to register a firearm on your ain. A registered gun that is lost or stolen may exist returned to the person listed on the form. If the gun is unregistered, it will non be returned.

Submitting a FOR Application could also lead to legal trouble. Yous could be accused of possession of an assault weapon. The person who sold or gave you the weapon could also be charged with illegally transferring a firearm. The form can be used equally evidence.

man holding revolver

You tin register an unregistered gun in California past filling out and submitting a Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application.

What is the Firearm Buying Report Application?

The Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Awarding is a legal form. It goes to the California Section of Justice (DOJ). The course is likewise known equally the BOF 4542A. By filling out and submitting the form, you lot voluntarily register a firearm. You are alleged its legal owner.

To fill out the grade, you need to provide information about yourself, including:

your personal and contact information,
where you were born,
citizenship condition and identification information, including a copy of your driver's license or ID card,
Handgun Safety Certificate number, and
whatsoever aliases you are known by.

You volition too have to provide information near the firearm you are declaring:

whether it is a handgun or a long gun, and what blazon it is,
series number,
make and model,
caliber,
origin,
barrel length,
color, and
when and how you caused it.

There is infinite for declaring ownership of 3 firearms on each awarding form. If you want to declare ownership of more than iii, you lot can attach additional copies of the form.

You will take to pay a $19 processing fee for each FOR Application.

The course can be mailed to:

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

This form cannot be used to annals an assail weapon. Assault weapons generally cannot be registered in California anymore.

Do I have to file this awarding?

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

the firearm is an assault 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 possessor of these firearms. Your information was collected during the background check.

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

Firearm owners moving to California have to register their firearms within 60 days. They utilise a unlike class – the New Resident Firearm Ownership Form.

What are the benefits?

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

If the firearm is lost or stolen, and then found, it will be returned to you. If the gun is not registered, at that place will be no official owner. It will not exist returned to y'all if information technology is not registered.

How tin I check to run across if my firearms are registered?

Yous tin asking a listing of firearms registered in your proper noun. You can become it by submitting an Automated Firearms System Records Request Form.

The form has to be:

signed,
notarized, and
accompanied by a re-create of your commuter'south license or photograph ID.

You tin postal service the form to:

Department of Justice
Bureau of Firearms
AFS Individual Denizen Request
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203

What about set on weapons?

Assault weapons cannot be registered in California, anymore.

State law set ownership and registration periods for assault weapons. This included Browning Auto Guns (BMG). All of those registration windows accept passed.¹

Can I get in legal trouble for filing the form?

Yes.

If you claim buying of an assault weapon, or any illegal weapon for that thing, you could face charges of illegal possession of a firearm. Assault weapons are illegal to possess in California. Only those that were registered during the registration windows are exempt. If you make full out a FOR Application listing an assault weapon and ship it to the DOJ, information technology can be used as evidence against you.

Illegal possession of an assault weapon is a wobbler in California. Information technology tin be prosecuted every bit a felony or a misdemeanor.

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

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

If pursued as a felony, the potential jail fourth dimension is 16 months, ii years, or iii years.³

A FOR Application tin also exist used as evidence of theillegal sale of a firearm. California law requires that all gun sales be completed through a licensed dealer.^four The FOR Awarding asks how you obtained the weapon. The answer may be used as evidence that yous got the gun illegally. The person who sold or transferred the gun could be charged with a crime.

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

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

Legal References: