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

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

Whatsoever firearm owner who moves into California is deemed a "personal firearm importer."1 Within 60 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 grade requires the firearm owner to expressly qualify DOJ to perform a background check to determine the possessor's firearm eligibility using all relevant state and federal databases, including the federal NICS database. The form also 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 purchase firearms, he or she must relinquish any and all firearms in his or her possession. Although the class does non specify the time period during which the person must then relinquish his or her firearms, presumably he or she must practice so immediately, since his or her possession of those firearms is at all times unlawful.2

A person who moves into the state and is in possession of an assault weapon or a.50 BMG burglarize may either obtain a permit from DOJ before entering the state with the firearm, or cause the firearm to be delivered to a licensed dealer who volition store the weapon until the person obtains a permit.3

A notice must be posted conspicuously at every inspection station forth the California border, in block messages not less than 4 inches in superlative, stating:

"Notice: IF You lot ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, THE FEDERAL GUN Control ACT MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM BRINGING WITH YOU INTO THIS Land FIREARMS THAT You lot ACQUIRED OUTSIDE OF THIS Country. IN ADDITION, IF YOU ARE A NEW CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, State Constabulary REGULATES YOUR BRINGING INTO CALIFORNIA HANDGUNS AND OTHER DESIGNATED FIREARMS AND MANDATES THAT SPECIFIC PROCEDURES BE FOLLOWED. IF YOU Take Whatsoever QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN BRINGING FIREARMS INTO CALIFORNIA OR TRANSFERRING FIREARMS WITHIN CALIFORNIA, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA Department OF JUSTICE OR A LOCAL CALIFORNIA Constabulary ENFORCEMENT Agency."iv

In improver, any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle prior to the engagement possession of the specific assault weapon or.50 BMG rifle became illegal, and who sought to go on the firearm, must have registered the firearm with DOJ within a specific time period designated past statute. For more information, run across DOJ'due south website regarding Frequently Asked Questions About Set on Weapons and.50 BMG Rifles and see our sections entitled Assault Weapons in California and .50 Caliber Rifles in California.

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