GUN SALES FAQs

Yes. In California, you must be at least 21 to buy any firearms or ammunition.

To buy a firearm, you must be deemed eligible to own one by passing a background check, which is done by the California Department of Justice, to make sure you are not in one of several “prohibited classes.” (To see a list of what the prohibited classes are, click here.) 

There is also a mandatory 10-day waiting period between the time you buy a firearm, and when you are allowed to pick it up. The 10-day waiting period is calculated as exactly 10 consecutive 24-hour periods, so you must come in on the tenth day after the exact time stamp when you submitted your Dealer Record of Sale (DROS.)

Your background check is valid for only 30 days, which includes the 10-day waiting period, so you only have 20 days to pickup your firearm after the 10th day. If you come to pick up your firearm after the 30-day window has closed, you will be required by the state to pay for another background check and restart the 10-day waiting period!

In addition, you may buy only one handgun every 30 days in California (however, consignments and private party transfers are exempt from this restriction.)

DROS (pronounced like “gross” but with a “d”) stands for Dealer Record of Sale, and it is a form that must be filled out every time a firearm is purchased in the state of California. This form contains information about both you and the firearm itself, and is used by the Department of Justice to complete your background check.

The fee for completing and submitting this form is $37.19 (increased and mandated by CA law on 1/1/20), and is collected by us at the time the purchase of your firearm is made. This amount is exactly what the state of California charges us to submit the form, as firearms dealers are prohibited by law from making any profit off of DROS fees. (Note: for Private Party Transfers (PPTs) there is an additional fee of $10, making the total $47.19 for these types of transfers.)

As long as you are 21 or over and a legal resident, to buy a firearm in California, you need to do 5 things:

1. Show proper identification (to see what forms of identification are acceptable, see the FAQ on this topic on this page.)
2. Show proof of residence in California (to see what forms of proof are acceptable, see the FAQ on this topic on this page.)
3. Possess a Firearms Safety Certificate (to learn how to get one, see the FAQ on this topic on this page.)
4. Give your thumbprint upon purchase (we will take this for you)
5. Demonstrate that you can safely handle the firearm you are purchasing (we will teach you how to do this in the store, then allow you to do it on your own.)

If your background check is denied by the California Dept. of Justice, you will be unable to complete your purchase of a firearm. In addition there will be a restocking fee of 10% of the purchase price (20% for special orders.) At The Gun Range San Diego, we are not provided the reason for denials by the CA Dept. of Justice – we are only informed of whether or not the transfer was approved by the DOJ.

If you want to know why your background check was denied, according to the California State Office of the Attorney General you will receive a letter from the DOJ Bureau of Firearms within two weeks. The letter will explain the reason, and instructions on how to get a copy of the record that resulted in the denial of your application. There will also be instructions on how to dispute and correct information in your record you believe is wrong.

There are three forms of identification that are acceptable to purchase a firearm in California:

1. California Driver License
2. California State ID
3. Military ID

For a license to be valid, it cannot be temporary or expired. In addition, for licenses issues beginning in early 2018, a California state ID or Driver License must be a “REAL ID,” meaning it passes new federally required standards for legal identification. California is currently issuing IDs and Driver Licenses with the words “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” for those that do not meet the REAL ID criteria, and these types of IDs may be used to purchase firearms, ONLY IF you also present a valid passport, passport card, or birth certificate. 

During your purchase, your license will be electronically scanned or photocopied. If the address on your ID is not current, or if a P.O. box is listed, you must also show additional government documentation listing your current address, such as a DMV printout, vehicle registration, security guard card, concealed carry permit, etc.

Note: if your Driver License has been suspended due to outstanding tickets or warrants, that will prevent your transfer from going through!

Yes you can! All you need to do is show proof of state residency, which can be done with your US Military ID and orders showing a permanent duty station in California. If you do not have a copy of your orders, you can obtain a letter from your command on official letterhead stating that you are permanently stationed in California in lieu of them. If you cannot provide either, you must be able to show a California State ID or Driver License to purchase a firearm.

Note: possessing a valid US Military ID exempts you from needing a Firearms Safety Certificate; one less step needed in getting you your new firearm!

There are two types of Proof of Residency required to buy a firearm in California; one for handguns, and another for long guns (i.e. rifles and shotguns)

For long guns, you must show a government-issued ID that shows your current address. If the address on your ID is not current, or if a P.O. box is listed, you must also show additional government documentation listing your current address, such as a DMV printout, vehicle registration, security guard card, voter registration card, concealed carry permit, etc.

For handguns, the state of California requires that you show additional proof of residency, even if your current address is already listed on your ID. Acceptable forms of this are: current vehicle registration, current rental or lease agreement, current utility bill, etc. (For a complete list of acceptable proof of residency, click here.) 

Short answer: take a quick written test, and pay a fee of $25.

A Firearms Safety Certificate (or FSC) is required to purchase any firearm in the state of California, and is granted to you after passing a short written test about firearms safety and paying a fee of $25. The test can be administered here the day you purchase your firearm, but you can look over this FSC Study Guide to make sure you are prepared when you come in.

There are 30 questions on the FSC test, and a passing score is 75% or better. Once you pass, you will be issued your FSC on the spot, and can proceed with your purchase. Your FSC will be valid for 5 years from the date it was issued. (Note: the Firearms Safety Certificate program applies to all firearm purchases in the state of California; it superseded the old Handgun Safety Certificate program in January 1, 2015, which applied only to handguns. If you still have a valid HSC card, it can still be used to purchase handguns only, until it expires.)

However, you may not need an FSC at all if you are part any group on the exemption list, and can show proper documentation. These groups are:

X01 = Special Weapons Permit Holder

X02 = Operation of Law Representative

X03 = Handgun being returned to the owner

X13 = FFL collector with COE (curio and relic firearms only)

X21 = Military – Active Duty

X22 = Military – Reserve

X25 = Military – Honorably Retired

X31 = Peace Officer – California – Active

X32 = Peace Officer – Federal – Active

X33 = Peace Officer – California – Honorably Retired

X34 = Peace Officer – California – Reserve

X35 = Peace Officer – Federal – Honorably Retired

X41 = Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit Holder

X81 = P.O.S.T. 832 PC (Firearms) Training

X91 = Particular and Limited Authority Peace Officers

X95 = Law Enforcement Service Gun to Family Member

X98 = Valid Hunting License (long guns only)

No; proof of citizenship will be obtained during your background check.

Short answer: yes!

As a non-citizen of the U.S., you can still buy guns and ammunition, but there are several conditions that must be met. There are three categories you may fall into as a non-citizen: Immigrant Aliens, Aliens from Visa Waiver Countries, and Non-Immigrant Visa Aliens. Below, you will find more detailed requirements you will need to meet to buy a firearm and ammunition, based on the category you fall into.

Immigrant Aliens

As an immigrant alien, you can possess, buy, and rent firearms and buy ammunition; however, you must meet all the same requirements that U.S. citizens do, including presenting proper identification and proof of residency, and possessing an FSC. In addition, your A-number or USCIS number must be provided at the time of purchase, along with a photocopy of your INS issued registration card or form I94-W.

Aliens from Visa Waiver Countries

If you are an alien visiting from a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program per the U.S. State Department, you may also possess, buy, and rent firearms and buy ammunition; for a list of eligible countries, click here. To buy or rent firearms, you must meet the same requirements as immigrant aliens (see above.)

Non-immigrant Visa Aliens

If you are a non-immigrant visa alien, you can also buy or rent firearms and ammunition, in certain cases. In order to do this, you must meet the following requirements:

1) You must present your visa and provide your admission number

2) You must show documentation that you meet one of the following exemptions:

• • Were admitted into the U.S. for valid hunting or sporting purposes, and possess a valid hunting license granted by the federal government, the State of California, or an Indian tribe recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

• • Have received an official waiver from the U.S. Attorney General

• • Are an official representative of a foreign government accredited to the United States Government or the Governments mission to an international organization having its headquarters in the United States;

• • Are an official of a foreign government or a distinguished foreign visitor who has been so designated by the Department of State

• Are a law enforcement officer of a friendly foreign government entering the United States on official law enforcement business.

Short answer: it’s the law.

In order to promote responsible firearms storage, there are several federal, state, and local laws that require approved locking devices to accompany the sale and/or transfer of firearms. These laws get a little complicated, and you can read about them below, but in most cases, the easiest way for both you and us to comply with all of them is for you to simply buy a lock with your firearm, and to have it installed on the firearm during the transfer.

The legal stuff: U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C., Ch. 44, Section 922(z)) requires a locking device to accompany the transfer of any handgun, unless you are a law enforcement officer; and this does include repairs! In addition, California state law (P.C. 12087) requires all firearms that are sold, transferred, or manufactured in California to have an approved locking device that has been purchased within 30 days of the delivery date, and you must be able to present a receipt showing that this purchase was made. (Note: for long guns only, you may sign an affidavit stating the make and model of an approved gun safe instead.) Finally, the city of San Diego (Municipal Code 33.4212 requires that the locking device be attached to the firearm when the transfer occurs.