What Is The Penalty For Shooting An Assault Rifle In California?

Question

Hello,

I enjoy target shooting but I rarely take my assault rifles though. One of them was purchased by me 'pre-ban' and the others I purchased while on vacation in other states. Does anyone know the penalty if you get caught shooting an assault rifle in California? What about the one that I bought back in the 80's? Is it okay to shoot that one even though it is an ar-15? Just wondering if anybody has dealt with this before. . . . Thanks, Randy

Answer 1

You can shoot a registered pre-ban AR-15 to your heart's content. Lots of people do. The out-of-state one is more of an issue and probably not something you want to discuss in a place like this where you could be traced. Basically the second one is a felony and you could do jail time for it. I hope you registered the first one or that falls into the same category as the second.

If they aren't registered then there's a good chance that they are also specifically named on the banned list, so you can't even make them acceptable by fitting a fixed 10 round magazine.

The Governator has nothing to do with all this, it's people like the gun toting Feinstein who put these laws in place (she may be anti-gun, but that's anti you having a gun, she has a concealed carry permit and a 357).

Here's an interesting quote from the article below which may answer your specific question...

"The new law also recognizes that not everyone who is caught with such weapons deserves jail time, Barankin said. Now, possession of an assault weapon can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony and is punishable by 16 months in jail, two years, or up to three years.

Making possession of assault weapons a public nuisance allows the state to destroy those weapons rather than risk allowing them to get back on the streets, Barankin said."

They are talking about something that hasn't gone in to law yet, and may never do so. Right now it sounds like unregistered assault weapon == jail.

Answer 2

It depends on exactly what is classified as an "assault rifle." The contemporary definition, as you know, is a fully automatic military rifle firing an intermediate power round, like the 5.56 x 45 mm (as opposed to the larger 7.62mm, which would make a battle rifle).

But to most uninformed people, if it looks like a M-16 or a Kalashnikov, it's an assault rifle, even if it cannot be modified for fully automatic fire. And unfortunately, the laws in California are made by uninformed, hoplophobic people.

If California has laws against "military-style" rifles (due to the "intimidating appearance") and rifles with pistol grips and detachable magazines with a capacity of greater than ten rounds, then the penalties you may suffer if you are found in possession of such weapons may range from fines and confiscation of said firearms, or even jail time. I believe California has laws against such weapons, which is a shame: you can slap a hi-capacity magazine on a Ruger Mini-14, and easily get away with it. But if you are caught with an AR-15 (or an imitation) that you legally purchased that only has a 10-round mag, you may be penalized legally.

Answer 3

All AR-15s and styles are banned in CA unless they have a fixed mag. For the most part all semi-automatic rifles with removable mags are banned they have to have a fixed mag with no more than 10 rds.The main question is your first AR-15 did you have it registered back in 1991 if not you may have some legal issues. The other question is are any of the guns select fire. Meaning firing multiple rounds with each pull of the trigger. If so this is a Felony in CA sorry. Do what I do, I have a FN Fal currently banned in CA. I go to the desert and shoot there. In So-Cal there are tones of locations. There are a couple of ranges that don't ask questions if you pay enough. Just go to the desert take some buddy's along and have fun.

Answer 4

Are they really "assault rifles" or semi-auto only look alikes that you and others are misled by anti-gun liberal pukes to believe are "dangerous assault weapons"?

California sucks anyway.. Chances are if you think its "illegal" in the People's Republik of Kalifornia (Народная Республика "Kalifornia"), it is. Excluding Illinois, there are 48 other states that don't have a problem with the same guns and there aren't any problems either...

Answer 5

California has a list of "approved" guns. You need to look it up and see if your gun is on the list. And there is no clearly defined term what an "assault weapon" means. It varies state by state.

Answer 6

I am not sure but I thought it was even possession was banned.
Just because you bought it in another state don’t make it legal to own in your home state.
I would do some checking first.

Answer 7

30 days in the electric chair . Sometimes it is Death by Lethal injections by Arnold.

Answer 8

goto batf.gov and read the rules for your state. if you need to sell it let me know i will pay top dollar. email me at yahoo.com
i know since that pussy arnold took over you guys have the strictess rules