How To Buy A Firearm In California

• All firearms purchases and transfers, including private party transactions and sales at gun shows, must be made through a licensed dealer under the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process. California imposes a 10-day waiting period before a firearm can be released to a buyer or transferee.
• A person must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a rifle or shotgun (pistol grip is 21). To buy a handgun, a person must be at least 21 years of age, and:
  1. Possess an FSC or qualify for an FSC exemption.
  2. Successfully complete a safety demonstration with the handgun being purchased or qualify for an exemption to the safe handling requirement.
• As part of the DROS process, the buyer must present “clear evidence of identity and age” which is defined as a valid, non-expired California Driver’s License or Identification Card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• A military identification accompanied by permanent duty station orders indicating a posting in California is also acceptable.
• If the buyer is not a U.S. Citizen, then he or she is required to demonstrate that he or she is legally within the United States by providing to the firearms dealer with documentation that contains his/her Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number.
• Purchasers are also required to provide proof of California residency, such as a utility bill, notarized residential lease, property deed, or government-issued identification (other than a drivers license or other DMV-issued identification).