Do I Have To Register My Ghost Gun In California?

June 5, 2021 update: On June four, 2021, a federal approximate overturned California's ban on set on weapons on the grounds that it violates the constitutional correct to bear arms under the 2nd Amendment. Just assault weapons remain illegal in California while the state appeals the ruling.

You lot can register an unregistered gun in California by completing and submitting a Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application. This voluntarily declares that y'all are the owner of the firearm. However, this course cannot exist used to register an attack weapon.

A FOR Awarding is not required for most firearms. They will have been registered past the dealer during the sale. However, there are reasons to register a firearm on your ain. A registered gun that is lost or stolen may be returned to the person listed on the form. If the gun is unregistered, information technology will not be returned.

Submitting a FOR Application could also pb to legal trouble. You could be accused of possession of an assault weapon. The person who sold or gave you lot the weapon could also be charged with illegally transferring a firearm. The form can be used every bit testify.

man holding revolver

You tin register an unregistered gun in California by filling out and submitting a Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application.

What is the Firearm Ownership Report Awarding?

The Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application is a legal form. Information technology goes to the California Section of Justice (DOJ). The form is also known as the BOF 4542A. By filling out and submitting the form, you voluntarily annals a firearm. You are declared its legal owner.

To fill out the form, you demand to provide information about yourself, including:

your personal and contact information,
where you were born,
citizenship status and identification information, including a copy of your driver's license or ID carte,
Handgun Safety Certificate number, and
whatever aliases you are known by.

Y'all will also accept to provide information almost the firearm you are declaring:

whether it is a handgun or a long gun, and what type it is,
serial number,
brand and model,
quotient,
origin,
barrel length,
color, and
when and how you caused it.

There is space for declaring ownership of iii firearms on each application course. If you want to declare buying of more than iii, you can attach boosted copies of the grade.

You lot volition have to pay a $19 processing fee for each FOR Awarding.

The form tin be mailed to:

Department of Justice
Agency of Firearms – FOR
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203

This form cannot be used to annals an assault weapon. Assail weapons mostly cannot be registered in California anymore.

Exercise I accept to file this application?

No, there is no legal requirement that a firearm has to be registered unless:

the firearm is an assail weapon, or
you are moving into California and ain a firearm.

Handguns that were legally bought in California are already registered. They were registered by the dealer. You are the registered possessor of these firearms. Your information was collected during the background bank check.

Long guns that were legally bought in 2014 or later in California are also registered. Those bought legally before then may not exist.

Firearm owners moving to California have to register their firearms within threescore days. They utilize a different form – the New Resident Firearm Ownership Form.

What are the benefits?

Submitting a FOR Awarding makes you the official owner of the firearm.

If the firearm is lost or stolen, and and so found, information technology will exist returned to yous. If the gun is not registered, there will exist no official possessor. It will non be returned to you lot if it is not registered.

How can I cheque to come across if my firearms are registered?

You lot can request a list of firearms registered in your name. Yous can get it past submitting an Automated Firearms System Records Request Form.

The form has to be:

signed,
notarized, and
accompanied by a copy of your commuter's license or photograph ID.

You can mail service the form to:

Department of Justice
Bureau of Firearms
AFS Private Denizen Asking
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203

What near assault weapons?

Attack weapons cannot exist registered in California, anymore.

State police force set ownership and registration periods for assault weapons. This included Browning Machine Guns (BMG). All of those registration windows accept passed.¹

Can I get in legal trouble for filing the form?

Yes.

If you claim buying of an assault weapon, or any illegal weapon for that affair, yous could face charges of illegal possession of a firearm. Assail weapons are illegal to possess in California. Simply those that were registered during the registration windows are exempt. If you fill out a FOR Application listing an assault weapon and ship information technology to the DOJ, it can be used every bit evidence against yous.

Illegal possession of an attack weapon is a wobbler in California. It can be prosecuted every bit a felony or a misdemeanor.

If prosecuted as a misdemeanor, a conviction carries up to:

i yr in jail, and/or
$1,000 in fines.ⁱⁱ

If pursued every bit a felony, the potential jail time is sixteen months, 2 years, or three years.^three

A FOR Application can besides be used equally evidence of theillegal sale of a firearm. California police force requires that all gun sales exist completed through a licensed dealer.⁴ The FOR Application asks how you obtained the weapon. The answer may be used as evidence that yous got the gun illegally. The person who sold or transferred the gun could be charged with a offense.

Illegally selling a firearm is a misdemeanor. The penalties tin can include up to:

6 months in jail, and/or
$ane,000 in fines.

Legal References: