California Laws on Buying a Handgun
The State of California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms regulates the sale and possession of all handguns within the state. The laws regarding buying a handgun are contained in the California Penal Code.
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Safety Certificate
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A person must obtain a handgun safety certificate (HSC) from a California Department of Justice-approved instructor before they can legally obtain or purchase a handgun in California. A person who sells, loans or otherwise transfers a handgun to a person who does not have a HSC is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 12801 of the California Penal Code. It is also a misdemeanor to purchase or otherwise obtain a handgun without possessing a valid HSC.
Handgun Purchase
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A person must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a handgun in California. All handgun purchases or transfers must be made through a licensed firearms dealer. This includes private sales of handguns.
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Additional Requirements
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Purchasers of a handgun must provide proof of residency other than a driver's license or state I.D., such as a utility bill or lease agreement. There is also a 10-day waiting period before the handgun can be transferred to the purchaser.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit gun image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
