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Cyrano · 12-22-2010, 08:50 AM

Welcome to the site.

The short answer, which I'm sure the Californian members will confirm, is that unless you have a concealed-carry permit, carrying around a pistol in the Peoples Democratic Republic of California will earn you a long, all-expense-paid vacation in a big house where you have to wear a black and white striped suit. Your fiancé and you need to get yourselves concealed carry permits before you start carrying a pistol; indeed, before you buy one.

Even after you have your CCW, you will only be able to buy pistols that are on what some call the "Commiefornia government approved list." This is a list of pistols the state government has tested and approved. There are magazine capacity restrictions, so no hi-cap wondernines for you! The state won't even admit that the finish on a pistol is irrelevant! For instance, if the tested gun was blued steel, you cannot own the same model in stainless steel even though they are otherwise identical! You can't own a pistol built with the same action in a different caliber than the pistol tested by the state even though the pistols are mechanically the same. For instance, the Hi-Point .380 ACP and Hi-Point 9mm pistols are on the Commiefornia "Okay" list. Their bigger brothers in .40 S&W and .45 ACP that use the same action are not. A Curio & Relic-qualified US GI M1911A1 pistol is legit to own. A modern Regent M1911A1 or a Taurus-built M1911A1, mechanically identical to the Colt-manufactured M1911A1, are not. It's okay to own a Belgian-made AP pistol in .32 ACP that's a licensed version of the Walther PP, or the more modern German AP66 ex-police pistol of the same design. It's NOT legal to own a Hungarian FEG Model AP-7 in .32 ACP. Same design, same pistol; but the AP-7 was never submitted and tested, so it's illegal. It's also not legal to own the CZ-70 in .32 ACP, nor the FEG PA-63, same design but in 9x18 Makarov. Same design, but the PA-63 and the CZ-70 have never been tested by the state government; so they are illegal in California.

Long story short: if the manufacturer did not submit the pistol for testing, unless it is a Curio & Relic gun (and not all of them) it's not legal in California for ownership by an honest citizen.

Your magazine capacity is at most ten rounds. You're going to have to live with that, there is no way around it. Select your caliber accordingly.

But the first thing to do is get those pistol permits. It may not be easy; as with the other Peoples Democratic Republic states like New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, the "may-issue" states, the county sheriff and the local county judges have a great deal of control over who does and doesn't get a pistol permit. As a serving member of the Armed Forces, they may cut you some slack. Do not presume that slack will extend to your fiancé unless she too is in the military. I suggest calling up the county sheriff's office, explain that you are a serviceman and want a pistol permit (you don't have to tell them why unless they ask), and ask what has to be done to qualify you for one. This varies from county to county, as does the time it takes to obtain the permit. Find out how the county you live in plays the game, and play by their rules. You don't have a choice, and do NOT presume anything. If you have a question, ASK.

Good luck. I think you're going to need it.

12-22-2010, 08:50 AM	#2
Cyrano Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 19,433	Welcome to the site. The short answer, which I'm sure the Californian members will confirm, is that unless you have a concealed-carry permit, carrying around a pistol in the Peoples Democratic Republic of California will earn you a long, all-expense-paid vacation in a big house where you have to wear a black and white striped suit. Your fiancé and you need to get yourselves concealed carry permits before you start carrying a pistol; indeed, before you buy one. Even after you have your CCW, you will only be able to buy pistols that are on what some call the "Commiefornia government approved list." This is a list of pistols the state government has tested and approved. There are magazine capacity restrictions, so no hi-cap wondernines for you! The state won't even admit that the finish on a pistol is irrelevant! For instance, if the tested gun was blued steel, you cannot own the same model in stainless steel even though they are otherwise identical! You can't own a pistol built with the same action in a different caliber than the pistol tested by the state even though the pistols are mechanically the same. For instance, the Hi-Point .380 ACP and Hi-Point 9mm pistols are on the Commiefornia "Okay" list. Their bigger brothers in .40 S&W and .45 ACP that use the same action are not. A Curio & Relic-qualified US GI M1911A1 pistol is legit to own. A modern Regent M1911A1 or a Taurus-built M1911A1, mechanically identical to the Colt-manufactured M1911A1, are not. It's okay to own a Belgian-made AP pistol in .32 ACP that's a licensed version of the Walther PP, or the more modern German AP66 ex-police pistol of the same design. It's NOT legal to own a Hungarian FEG Model AP-7 in .32 ACP. Same design, same pistol; but the AP-7 was never submitted and tested, so it's illegal. It's also not legal to own the CZ-70 in .32 ACP, nor the FEG PA-63, same design but in 9x18 Makarov. Same design, but the PA-63 and the CZ-70 have never been tested by the state government; so they are illegal in California. Long story short: if the manufacturer did not submit the pistol for testing, unless it is a Curio & Relic gun (and not all of them) it's not legal in California for ownership by an honest citizen. Your magazine capacity is at most ten rounds. You're going to have to live with that, there is no way around it. Select your caliber accordingly. But the first thing to do is get those pistol permits. It may not be easy; as with the other Peoples Democratic Republic states like New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, the "may-issue" states, the county sheriff and the local county judges have a great deal of control over who does and doesn't get a pistol permit. As a serving member of the Armed Forces, they may cut you some slack. Do not presume that slack will extend to your fiancé unless she too is in the military. I suggest calling up the county sheriff's office, explain that you are a serviceman and want a pistol permit (you don't have to tell them why unless they ask), and ask what has to be done to qualify you for one. This varies from county to county, as does the time it takes to obtain the permit. Find out how the county you live in plays the game, and play by their rules. You don't have a choice, and do NOT presume anything. If you have a question, ASK. Good luck. I think you're going to need it. Last edited by Cyrano; 12-22-2010 at 08:53 AM.