Can I Search If Someone Has A Registered Gun In California

Bureau of Firearms Logo

Welcome to the California DOJ Agency of Firearms

The Agency of Firearms serves the people of California through education, regulation, and enforcement actions regarding the manufacture, sales, ownership, safety grooming, and transfer of firearms. Bureau of Firearms staff will be leaders in providing firearms expertise and information to law enforcement, legislators, and the general public in a comprehensive program to promote legitimate and responsible firearms possession and use by California residents.

Attention

Beginning Dec 1, 2021, applicants must electronically submit a Law Enforcement Release (LER) awarding for the return of firearm(s), armament, and/or ammunition feeding device(s) via the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS). Applicants that do non already have a CFARS account will be required to create an account in order to directly communicate with the Department and to bank check the condition of an application.

The Department will no longer accept newspaper LER application (BOF 119) submissions. Paper applications received via United states mail, UPS, FedEx., etc., postmarked after Nov xxx, 2021, will exist returned unprocessed with instructions on how to submit the application via CFARS.

For boosted information regarding the Police Enforcement Release procedure, please refer to Information on the Law Enforcement Release Program webpage. For more than information about CFARS, please visit the Firearms Reporting & Constabulary Enforcement Release Application webpage.

"Other" Assault Weapon Registration

Penal Code section 30900, as amended, required any person who, prior to September 1, 2020, lawfully possessed an attack weapon every bit defined by Penal Lawmaking department 30515 subdivision (a) paragraphs (ix), (x), and (xi), and was eligible to register an set on weapon as set forth in Penal Code department 30900, subdivision (c), to submit an application to the DOJ to annals the firearm before January 1, 2022. The regulations for the Other Attack Weapon Registration are available on the Firearms Regulations/Rulemaking Activities webpage. For more data regarding "Other" Assault Weapons, visit the "Other" Assault Weapon Information page.

Registration is now closed. Any applications, whether submitted electronically or through the postal service, should have been submitted during the registration period beginning October 1, 2021 at 9:00 AM PST through Dec 31, 2021 at 11:59 PM PST. Registration applications received or postmarked afterward December 31, 2021 will not exist accepted.

Delight Note: The "Other" assault weapons registration is Non affiliated with or an extension to previous registrations, including the "SB 23" and "Bullet Button" assault weapons registrations.

UPDATE REGARDING LARGE Chapters MAGAZINES

On Baronial 14, 2020, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Courtroom of Appeals affirmed the district court decision in Duncan v. Becerra. The appellate ruling does non lift the stay that California Chaser General Xavier Becerra secured at the commencement of the appeal. The stay remains in place until the appellate procedure is final. This allows California's nearly 20-year-erstwhile prohibition on the acquisition of new large-capacity ammunition magazines to remain in effect pending further appellate proceedings.

In California, it has been illegal since 2000 to manufacture, import, keep or offer for auction, requite, lend, or receive large-chapters magazines—divers as those that can hold more than x rounds of ammunition. On March 29, 2019, the Commune Court for the Southern District of California ruled that this law was unconstitutional. Chaser General Becerra asked the judge to stay his ruling pending appeal to prevent the influx of large-capacity magazines into the land while litigation is ongoing. This asking was granted. As a result, as of 5:00 p.one thousand. on April 5, 2019, California Penal Code section 32310(a) and (b) went back into effect and they remain in effect until further action by the appellate courtroom:

"(a) Except as provided in Article two (commencing with Department 32400) of this chapter and in Affiliate 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Championship 2, any person in this country who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for auction, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, buys, or receives any large-capacity magazine is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail non exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170."

"(b) For purposes of this section, 'manufacturing' includes both fabricating a magazine and assembling a mag from a combination of parts, including, but not limited to, the body, jump, follower, and floor plate or terminate plate, to be a fully functioning large-capacity mag."

Firearms and Ammunition Purchaser Information

Nether Penal Lawmaking section 28220(f)(iv), the Section of Justice (DOJ) has up to 30 days to complete background checks on firearms purchasers. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DOJ typically completed these checks inside Penal Code Department 26815(a)'southward ten-day waiting period. COVID-19 protective measures have impacted the ability to increase the personnel resources in the DROS unit to accost the contempo sustained increment in firearms and armament transactions without compromising the health and rubber of our employees and the community. Equally a result, firearms and ammunition dealers and purchasers should know that every bit DOJ employees go on to perform the statutorily required groundwork checks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, circumstances may compel that background checks are completed afterward the expiration of the 10-day waiting catamenia for firearms purchases. DOJ will keep to strive to provide the best service and complete these checks in the shortest time possible.

Police force Enforcement Release (LER)

Pursuant to Senate Bill 746 (Stats. 2018, ch. 780), constructive July 1, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is required to regulate the render of ammunition and ammunition feeding devices in the custody of a court or law enforcement agency. All individuals who wish to have the aforementioned items returned, must first receive approval from the DOJ. For more than information regarding this process (including submission requirements and fees), delight refer to the Law Enforcement Release Program webpage.

Additional Documentation Requirements for Eligibility Checks with Federal Non-Compliant California Commuter License or Identification Cards

Effective July one, 2019, new regulations will exist in effect that employ to all eligibility checks. A copy of the applicant's California driver license, identification card, or out-of-state driver license, if applicable, shall be submitted with the application/report, as specified pursuant to California Code of Regulations, championship 11, section 4045.1, subdivisions (d)-(g). If the applicant presents a federal not-compliant California commuter license or identification carte du jour with the notation "Federal Limits Employ" on the forepart, additional documentation establishing lawful presence in the United States will too exist required (Cal. Code Reg., tit. xi, § 4045.1, subd. (b-c)).

For more data, delight refer to the Additional Documentation Requirements for Eligibility Checks with Federal Non-Compliant California Commuter License or Identification Cards, pdf.

Armament Purchase Authorization Program

Effective July 1, 2019, persons seeking to purchase or transfer ammunition will take to undergo an eligibility bank check, and be approved by the Department, prior to the sale or transfer, except as otherwise specified. Departmental approval shall occur electronically through a licensed ammunition vendor.

For more data please visit the Ammunition Purchase Authorization Program webpage

DROS Processing Advisory

Please be aware that Department of Justice Agency of Firearms staff is prohibited by constabulary from discussing an applicant'south criminal tape or mental health information over the phone. Staff likewise cannot provide legal advice or offer information relating to the various legal steps needed to restore firearms rights. (California Penal Code section 11105 and Welfare and Institutions Code section 8103, subdivision (east)(3).)

What you lot should do

If your DROS awarding is Delayed, Undetermined, Rejected, or Denied

Delayed
Undetermined
Rejected
Denied

Delayed

A DROS application tin can exist delayed for many reasons. Virtually often it is because the background check found a record matching your personal descriptors (such as your name, date of nascency, etc.) and more time is needed to verify that the record is yours and to obtain missing information needed to determine your eligibility to own or possess firearms.

Please be patient and allow the Department enough time to gather additional data and resolve any problems. The Section volition notify the firearms dealer to delay the transfer of a firearm to a purchaser if the Department is unable to determine the purchaser's eligibility inside the 10-day waiting menstruum. Many county courthouses are operating on shortened piece of work weeks and with fewer staff, delaying the approval or deprival of applications. If the record is an out-of-land or military record, yous should anticipate a longer response time from our office to go the needed information. If 30 days has passed since the transaction date and the Department is nevertheless unable to decide the purchaser's eligibility to own/possess firearms or whether the firearm involved in the sale/transfer is stolen, the Department volition notify the dealer.

If you believe there is a discrepancy in your eligibility to own/possess firearms, yous tin obtain a copy of your California record past completing the Asking for Alive Scan (BOF 8016RR) class located on the Department'southward website: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms. Y'all should review the record, place any incomplete or missing court information, and then follow up with the courtroom where your instance was held and request the court submit corrected information to the DOJ's Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis (BCIA). If you disagree with whatsoever data in your tape, yous should follow the instructions in the letter for disputing inaccuracies. Yous may wish to obtain an attorney for legal advice and who can best represent your interests on how to restore your rights to buy firearms.

Undetermined

The California Section of Justice (the Department) is authorized past Penal Code department 28220 to temporarily delay a firearm transaction for up to 30 days from the date of transaction when the Department is unable to immediately determine the purchaser'south eligibility to own/possess firearms. If thirty days has passed since the transaction date and the Section is nevertheless unable to determine the purchaser's eligibility to own/possess firearms or whether the firearm involved in the sale/transfer is stolen, the Department will notify the dealer. It volition then exist at the dealer's sole discretion whether to release to you the firearm.

If yous believe there is a discrepancy in your eligibility to own/possess firearms, you can obtain a copy of your California record by completing the Request for Live Scan (BOF 8016RR) form located on the Department's website: http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/forms. Yous should review the record, place any incomplete or missing courtroom information, and then follow upwards with the court where your case was held and request the courtroom submit corrected data to the DOJ's Agency of Criminal Information and Assay (BCIA). If yous disagree with any information in your record, yous should follow the instructions in the letter for disputing inaccuracies. Yous may wish to obtain an attorney for legal communication and who tin can best represent your interests on how to restore your rights to buy firearms.

Rejected

There are two mutual reasons why a DROS application may be rejected:
(1) you attempted to buy more than ane handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle in a 30-day period (California Penal Code section 27540, subdivision (chiliad)); or,
(2) you attempted to purchase a firearm with an invalid, suspended, revoked, or expired California driver's license or California identification menu (California Penal Code sections 16400 and 26815).

In the case of a 30-twenty-four hours handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle purchase restriction, you lot cannot attempt to purchase more than 1 handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle in a 30-day period. If one of your transactions was a private-political party transfer or pawn redemption, y'all demand to check with the dealer to make sure the correct transaction blazon was selected when the transaction was submitted to DOJ.

In the case of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) rejection, your application was rejected based on data provided to u.s.a. past the California DMV. You lot must contact the DMV to make sure your California driver's license or California identification carte du jour information is current and correct.

Denied

If your DROS application is denied, you will receive a letter of the alphabet from the DOJ Bureau of Firearms within two weeks. The letter will explain the reason and instructions on how to get a re-create of the record that resulted in the denial of your application. There will besides exist instructions on how to dispute and right information in your record yous believe is wrong. DOJ staff cannot discuss your record over the telephone. Therefore, it is recommended that you go a copy of your tape and follow the instructions for disputing inaccuracies. You lot may also wish to retain an attorney for legal communication and who can best represent your interests on how to restore your rights to buy firearms.

If your DROS awarding was denied based on a Federal Brady prohibition (e.grand., out-of-state conviction, illegal/unlawful alien, military dishonorable discharge, out-of-state mental health record, etc.), you lot tin appeal the denial of your application direct to the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Instant Criminal History Background Cheque System (NICS). When discussing your situation with NICS, you must include the NICS Transaction Number (NTN) associated with your firearm purchase as referenced in the denial letter sent to you by the DOJ Bureau of Firearms. You lot tin appeal directly to NICS by downloading the NICS appeal brochure and following the instructions plant at NICS Appeals page.

General Information

Firearms Fees, pdf
Data Bulletins (Including Firearm Legislation)
Forms and Publications
Firearm Prophylactic
Transporting Firearms in California
Firearms Information for New California Residents
Law Enforcement Release Information
Unique Serial Number Awarding (USNA) Process

Assault Weapons, Olympic Pistols, and Destructive Devices

Attack Weapons Identification Guide, pdf - Currently Under Revision
Roster of AK and AR-fifteen Series Weapons, pdf
Senate Nib 23 Assault Weapon Characteristics
Exempt Olympic Pistols, pdf
Public Notice - Zastava SKS Carbines are Considered Destructive Devices

Handgun and Laboratory Certification

Laboratories Certified to Test Handguns
Roster of Handguns Certified for Auction

Prophylactic Devices, Laboratory Certification, and Gun Safe Standards

Roster of Approved Firearms Safety Devices
Laboratories Certified to Test Firearms Safety Devices
Gun Safe Standards

Firearms Dealer Information and Tools

CA Firearms Dealer DROS Entry Organisation Access
State Exemptions for Authorized Peace Officers
DROS Stats 1972 - Present, pdf
DROS Internet Process Frequently Asked Questions

Back To Elevation