Are Pre-Ban AR-15 rifles still legal in California?
My family owns a AR-15A2 Sporter II carbine in 9mm (also officially known as the Colt Model R6450) since 1994, and since California passed some sort of firearm act restricting telescoping stocks, flash hiders, 30 round magazines, and pistol grips, all of which our AR15A2 has.
Ever since California's ever-changing firearm policies, we have been scared to take it out of the house, since we were afraid that we might get arrested.
I've been wondering if a rifle purchased in 1994 can still be used as of now *legally*.
Jerry H2009-05-29T19:31:00Z
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The short answer is "no." If you didn't register it as an "assault weapon" during the specified period when the law was passed, you're out of luck. It doesn't matter how long ago you owned it. The registration period expired long ago, the state is no longer registering "assault weapons" (the Bradys sued and forced them to stop) and possession of an unregistered one in California is illegal.
Because you are asking this question I must assume that this weapon has not been properly(legally) transferred into your possession. If it was not properly registered and properly transferred to the person who currently possessed the weapon then you have a problem. It may not be a drag you off to prison problem, but it is likely a have to go to court never own a firearm again problem. Do yourself a favor and consult an attorney who is a specialist in California Firearms statutes, especially those that pertain to assault weapons. There is one firm listed at calguns.net, but I know nothing about them--can't vouch for them or caution you against them. Just giving you a place to start. By the way, the California AR ban preceeded the federal ban. Good luck, I suspect you're going to need it.
the 1994 law is a nation wide ban known as the "Assault Weapons Ban". while the rest of the nation (or most of it) was released from the 1994 AWB in 2004, California had already enacted a second AWB in 2000 that doesn't expire and basically forced registration of all existing pre-ban AWB weapons, and prohibits ownership of any AWB weapons after 2000 or even after 2004.
so basically if your AR15 rifle wasn't purchased prior to the 1994 ban and registered in or around 2000, then its a felony to possess in California. Hopefully you do have it registered, right? otherwise you better sneak it out of California or destroy it right away before someone from CA government learns that you have a non-registered pre-ban AR15 in your house! If you don't have it registered, they'll come by and confiscate it, put you and your family away on a felony charge, and ban you from ever owning firearms again.