California State Law Summary

Last updated January 26, 2010

In its publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 different firearms-related policy areas.  California ranked first out of 50 – having enacted the strongest gun violence prevention legislation in the nation. Among other things, California:

• Requires all gun sales to be processed through a licensed dealer; 

• Requires gun dealers to obtain a state license; 

• Bans most assault weapons and 50 caliber rifles, and prohibits the sale or transfer of large capacity ammunition magazines;

• Requires handgun purchasers to obtain a license, after passing a written test;

• Regulates gun shows;

• Limits handgun purchases to one per person per month;

• Prohibits the sale of “unsafe handguns” not on the roster of approved handguns; 

• Imposes a ten-day waiting period prior to the sale or transfer of a firearm; and

• Maintains permanent records of handgun sales.

In addition, in 2007, California became the first jurisdiction in the nation to require handgun microstamping.

There is no state “right to bear arms” in California. Local governments in California retain authority to regulate firearms and ammunition, although the state legislature has expressly removed this authority in certain areas.  Local law enforcement in California has discretion in determining whether to issue a license to carry a concealed weapon.

In 2007, 3,231 people died from firearm-related injuries in California. In 2006 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 4,491 people were hospitalized for non-fatal gunshot wounds in California.

California consistently ranks among the top ten suppliers of guns recovered after being used in crimes in other states.  However, when population is taken into account, California is the fifth lowest supplier of guns recovered from crimes in other states.  In addition, California is the fourth largest supplier (among the states) of crime guns to Mexico when population is taken into account.  Note, however, that California supplies crime guns to Mexico at less than one-third the rate of Arizona, the top supplier of crime guns to Mexico.

For legislation enacted or considered in California in 2010, see LCAV's Summary of 2010 California Firearms Legislation.

For details about specific California firearms laws, choose a topic below.

Overview State "Right to Bear Arms" Statistics Local Authority to Regulate Firearms
State Firearms Policies Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession Prohibited Purchasers Generally Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Domestic Violence & Firearms Disarming Prohibited Persons Sales & Transfers Background Checks Mental Health Reporting Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms Retention of Sales / Background Check Records Waiting Periods Gun Dealers & Other Sellers Dealer Regulations Private Sales Gun Shows Immunity Statutes Gun Owner Responsibilities Licensing of Gun Owners / Purchasers Registration of Firearms Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms	Firearms in Public Places Concealed Weapons Permitting Open Carrying Location Restrictions Guns in Vehicles Guns in Schools Other Location Restrictions Consumer & Child Safety Design Safety Standards for Handguns Locking Devices Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms Child Access Prevention Classes of Weapons / Ammunition Assault Weapons Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines Fifty Caliber Rifles Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms Non-Powder Guns Ammunition Regulation Investigating Gun Crimes Microstamping / Ballistic Identification Trafficking Gun Tracing
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