Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Assault Weapons in California.’ Hardware & Ammunition. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 20 April
Relevant contents
[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]
Assault Weapons in California
With limited exceptions, California prohibits anyone from possessing an assault weapon unless he or she possessed the firearm prior to the date it was defined as an assault weapon and registered the firearm with the California Department of Justice ("DOJ") in the timeframe established by state law. (This timeframe has ended. DOJ is not accepting any new registrations of assault weapons.)
California also prohibits any person from manufacturing, distributing, transporting, importing, keeping for sale, offering for sale, giving, or lending any assault weapon within the state. However, DOJ may, upon a finding of good cause, issue permits for the manufacture or sale of assault weapons to certain agencies, persons, entities, governments, or law enforcement bodies. Generally, no lawfully possessed assault weapon may be sold or transferred to anyone within California other than to a licensed gun dealer who has been issued a permit to sell assault weapons, or to a police or sheriff's department.
California law lists certain firearms that have been deemed assault weapons, including all AK series and Colt AR-15 series. California's Attorney General is required to promulgate a list specifying all such firearms. However, a firearm that meets any of the following descriptions is also an "assault weapon":
- Semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
1) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; 2) a thumbhole stock;
3) a folding or telescoping stock;
4) a grenade or flare launcher;
5) a flash suppressor; or
6) a forward pistol grip;
- Semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds;
- Semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches;
- Semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
1) a threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
2) a second handgrip;
3) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel allowing the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel; or
4) the capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip;
- Semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds;
- Semiautomatic shotgun that has both a folding or telescoping stock, and a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip;
- Semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine; or
- Shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
Antique firearms (i.e., firearms manufactured prior to 1899), and certain pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events, are exempt.
California does not ban kits that allow a person to convert a lawful firearm into an assault weapon.
Any person owning a lawfully registered assault weapon may possess the firearm only under limited conditions, unless he or she obtains a permit for additional uses from DOJ. Those conditions include:
- At the person's residence, place of business, or other property owned by that person, or on property owned by another with the owner's express permission;
- While on certain target ranges and shooting clubs;
- While on publicly owned land if specifically permitted by the managing agency of the land; or
- While properly transporting the firearm between any of the places mentioned above, or to any licensed gun dealer for servicing and repair.
DOJ has the authority to conduct an annual security and safe storage inspection, and verify the assault weapon inventory, of any individual, firm or corporation that holds a permit to own or possess an assault weapon. Permit holders that maintain an inventory of fewer than five assault weapon devices are subject to such DOJ inspections only once every five years, or more frequently if deemed necessary by DOJ.
California law provides that the possession of an assault weapon in violation of state laws is a public nuisance. As a result, any assault weapon possessed in violation of state laws must be destroyed, except upon finding by a court, or a declaration from DOJ, a district attorney, or a city attorney stating that the preservation of the assault weapon is in the interest of justice.
The courts have rejected legal challenges to California's assault weapons ban…