California
List of Banned Weapons is Expanded
The following document was published July 17,
2000 by the Firearms Division of the California Department of Justice. It
provides the reasoning and list, by make and model, of firearms that are
considered banned from sale in California effective July 29, 2000. Owners
of the firearms (expanded from the original Roberti-Roos list of 1989) are
expected by the state gestapo to destroy, remove from the state or register the
firearm by December 31, 2000. Recommended reading: Why
I Will Not Obey California's Gun Registration Edict by Brian Puckett
TO: ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
ALL FIREARMS DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS
ALL PRESIDING JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURTS
ALL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Summary
Effective July 29, 2000, unless the California Supreme Court grants a rehearing,
copycat/clone “series” AK and AR-15 assault weapons cannot be offered for
sale, sold, manufactured, or imported into California. Additionally, such
assault weapons possessed prior to July 29, 2000, must be registered on or
before December 31, 2000. This bulletin addresses issues surrounding these
changes.
Supreme Court Findings / Opinion
On June 29, 2000, the California Supreme Court issued the long awaited decision
in Kasler v. Lockyer, a case which addresses the 1989 Roberti-Roos Assault
Weapons Control Act (AWCA). The California Supreme Court reversed an earlier
Court of Appeal decision which had determined there were constitutional
infirmities in the AWCA. In Kasler, the California Supreme Court upheld the
constitutionality of the AWCA in its entirety.
An integral part of the AWCA is the provision
in Penal Code section 12276.5, which allows the Attorney General to add-on
additional weapons which are similar to those listed in subdivisions (a), (b)
and (c) of section 12276. In addition, and separate from the add-on provision,
Penal Code
section 12276, subdivisions (e) and (f), state that all AK series and AR-15
series weapons are controlled assault weapons even if they are “other models
that are only variations, with minor differences, regardless of manufacturer.”
There are many copycat/clone “series” AK and AR-15 assault weapons.
The add-on provision of Penal Code section
12276.5 was a major subject of the Kasler litigation which began in 1992. During
the pendency of the litigation and due to questions about the constitutionality
of the AWCA, Attorney General Daniel Lungren, and later Attorney General Bill
Lockyer, did not use the add-on provision to regulate other weapons, nor did the
Department of Justice identify the “series” weapons listed in the separate
provisions of Penal Code section 12276, subdivisions (e) and (f). Series weapons
continued to be manufactured, imported into California, sold, purchased and
possessed within California without regard to Penal Code section 12276,
subdivisions (e) and (f).
In 1999 the Legislature expanded the assault
weapons definition by adding Penal Code section 12276.1, which identifies
assault weapons by characteristics. The Kasler decision has affirmed the
Attorney General’s authority to identify assault weapons with both the add-on
provisions of Penal Code section 12276.5 and identify the “series” AK and
AR-15 assault weapons pursuant to Penal Code section 12276 (e)(f). Removal of
assault weapon characteristics does not eliminate the need to register AK and
AR-15 series weapons.
Department of Justice Obligation
To date, multiple legislative sessions have passed legislation to control
assault weapons under three governors. Now with the concurrence of the
California Supreme Court, the legislative, executive and judicial branches of
government have directly addressed the control of assault weapons. In light of
the recent Supreme Court’s determination that the Act is constitutional, the
Department of Justice is obligated to identify and enforce the statute with
respect to AK and AR-15 copycat/clone “series” weapons. To assist the public
in identifying these assault weapons, the Department of Justice has identified
the attached list of series weapons. The Department of Justice, with the
assistance of experts and other interested parties in the assault weapons field,
plans to publish a more current list by October 1, 2000. Thereafter, individuals
who lawfully possessed these copycat/clone “series” weapons will have 90
days, October 2, 2000, through December 31, 2000, to register these “series”
assault weapons with the Department of Justice. For those who are currently in
possession of these assault weapons, the Department of Justice will begin
accepting registrations for these copycat/clone “series” assault weapons
immediately. Peace officers owning personal assault weapons are not exempt from
these requirements.
Effective Dates / Deadlines for “Series”
Assault Weapons
On July 29, 2000, the Supreme Court decision in Kasler becomes final unless the
California Supreme Court grants a rehearing. As of that date, copycat/clone AK
and AR-15 “series” weapons can no longer be manufactured within the state,
imported into the state, offered for sale or sold
within California.
In order to comply with the law, an individual
in lawful possession of an AK or AR-15 “series” assault weapon must do one
of the following:
• lawfully possess the “series” assault
weapon on or before July 28, 2000, and register it on
or before December 31, 2000; or
• lawfully possess the “series” assault
weapon on or before July 28, 2000, and must either
sell or transfer the “series” assault weapon via the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS)
process
on or before July 28, 2000. Starting the DROS process prior to midnight July 28,
2000, is
sufficient. Starting the process includes both submission of the purchaser
information to
the Department of Justice and also assignment of the DROS number by the
department; or
• render the weapon permanently inoperable,
sell the weapon to a licensed assault weapons
dealer, or remove the weapon from this state.
Senate Bill (SB) 23 , Penal Code section
12276.1, in light of Kasler
Senate Bill 23, Penal Code section 12276.1, does not apply to AK and AR-15
“series” assault weapons. These assault weapons must be registered. Removal
of a characteristic will not change their status as assault weapons.
Questions
In an effort to assist you in identifying Roberti-Roos and AK and AR-15
“series” weapons, the
Department of Justice will publish an Assault Weapon Identification Guide in the
near future. If
you have any questions, please feel free to visit the Firearms Division’s web
site at
caag.state.ca.us/firearms, or speak with a Firearms Division Field
Representative at
916-227-3703. For more information on SB 23, you may visit the www.regagun.org
website or
call the toll-free information line at 877-734-2486.
Sincerely,
RANDY ROSSI, Director
Firearms Division
For BILL LOCKYER
Attorney General
Attachment
ls
AK ASSAULT WEAPONS - ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED
THESE ASSAULT WEAPONS HAD TO BE REGISTERED BY MARCH 31, 1992.
MAADI CO
AK47
ARM
Made in China
AK
AKM
AKS
AK47
AK 47S
56
56S
84S
86S
Norinco
56
56 S
84 S
86 S
Poly Technologies
AKS
AK47
AK SERIES ASSAULT WEAPONS - RECENTLY
IDENTIFIED
THESE ASSAULT WEAPONS MUST BE REGISTERED BY DECEMBER 31, 2000.
American Arms
AK-Y 39
AK-F 39
AK-C 47
AK-F 47
Arsenal
SLR (all)
SLG (all)
B-West
AK-47 (all)
Hesse Arms
Model 47 (all)
Wieger STG 940 Rifle
Inter Ordnance - Monroe, NC
AK-47 (all)
RPK
M-97
Kalishnikov USA
Hunter Rifle
MAADI CO
MISR (all)
MISTR (all)
MARS
Pistol
Mitchell Arms, Inc.
AK-47 (all)
AK-47 Cal. 308 (all)
M-76
RPK
M-90
Norinco
AK-47 (all)
86 (all)
Hunter Rifle
Model B (all)
NHM 90, 90-2, 91 Sport
RPK Rifle
Type 81 S (all)
MAK 90
Ohio Ordnance Works (o.o.w.)
ROMAK 991
Valmet
Hunter Rifle
76 S
WUM
WUM (all)
AR ASSAULT WEAPONS - ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED
THESE ASSAULT WEAPONS HAD TO BE REGISTERED BY MARCH 31, 1992.
Colt
AR-15
AR SERIES ASSAULT WEAPONS - RECENTLY
IDENTIFIED
THESE ASSAULT WEAPONS MUST BE REGISTERED BY DECEMBER 31, 2000.
American Spirit
USA Model
Armalite
AR 10 (all)
M15 (all)
Golden Eagle
Bushmaster
Bushmaster XM15 (all)
Colt
Sporter (all)
Match Target (all)
Law Enforcement (6920)
Eagle Arms
M15 (all)
EA-15 A2 H-BAR
EA-15 E1
Dalphon
B.F.D.
DPMS
Panther (all)
Hesse Arms
HAR 15A2 (all)
Knights
SR-15 (all)
SR-25 (all)
RAS (all)
Les Baer
Ultimate AR (all)
Olympic Arms
AR-15
Car-97
PCR (all)
Professional Ordnance, Inc.
Carbon 15 Rifle
Carbon 15 Pistol
Palmetto
SGA (all)
PWA
All Models
Rock River Arms, Inc.
Standard A-2
Car A2
Standard A-4 Flattop
Car A4 Flattop
NM A2 - DCM Legal
LE Tactical Carbine
Wilson Combat
AR-15