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The California Department of Justice ("DOJ") retains an electronic database containing relevant data about firearm sales and transfers. This database is critical to implementing various gun safe laws, specially those requiring people to relinquish firearms later becoming prohibited from keeping them, like subsequently existence convicted of a serious firearm-prohibiting crime. For more information about this automated tape database, see the section entitled Retention of Sales / Background Cheque Records in California.

Other land laws require people to notify the state Department of Justice when they transport firearms into the country of California, or otherwise learn firearms without the participation of a licensed dealer in California:

Whatever firearm owner who moves into California is deemed a "personal firearm importer."1 Within threescore days, the person must provide a study to DOJ regarding their firearm or sell or transfer the firearm through a licensed dealer or to a sheriff or police department. The form requires the firearm owner to expressly authorize DOJ to perform a groundwork check to make up one's mind the owner'southward firearm eligibility using all relevant state and federal databases, including the federal NICS database. The class likewise requires the firearm owner to certify that he or she understands that if the results of this cheque reveal that he or she is ineligible either to lawfully possess or buy firearms, he or she must relinquish any and all firearms in his or her possession. Although the grade does non specify the time period during which the person must and then relinquish his or her firearms, presumably he or she must exercise so immediately, since his or her possession of those firearms is at all times unlawful.two

A person who moves into the state and is in possession of an assault weapon or a.l BMG rifle may either obtain a let from DOJ before inbound the land with the firearm, or cause the firearm to be delivered to a licensed dealer who volition store the weapon until the person obtains a allow.3

A notice must exist posted conspicuously at every inspection station along the California border, in cake letters not less than iv inches in top, stating:

"Discover: IF Y'all ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, THE FEDERAL GUN Command ACT MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM BRINGING WITH YOU INTO THIS STATE FIREARMS THAT Yous Acquired OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE. IN Improver, IF YOU ARE A NEW CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, STATE Constabulary REGULATES YOUR BRINGING INTO CALIFORNIA HANDGUNS AND OTHER DESIGNATED FIREARMS AND MANDATES THAT SPECIFIC PROCEDURES Exist FOLLOWED. IF YOU Have Any QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN BRINGING FIREARMS INTO CALIFORNIA OR TRANSFERRING FIREARMS WITHIN CALIFORNIA, You lot SHOULD CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR A LOCAL CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY."iv

In addition, whatever person who lawfully possessed an attack weapon or .l BMG burglarize prior to the date possession of the specific set on weapon or.50 BMG burglarize became illegal, and who sought to keep the firearm, must have registered the firearm with DOJ within a specific time period designated by statute. For more information, see DOJ's website regarding Frequently Asked Questions About Assail Weapons and.50 BMG Rifles and see our sections entitled Attack Weapons in California and .fifty Caliber Rifles in California.

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  1. Cal. Penal Code § 17000.[↩]
  2. Cal. Penal Code § 27560.[↩]
  3. Cal. Penal Code §§ 30925, 30940.[↩]