Article 6 - Exceptions to Rules Governing Unsafe Handguns

California Penal Code — §§ 32100-32110

Sections (4)

Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 147, Sec. 1. (AB 1964) Effective January 1, 2015.

(a)Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall not apply to a single-action revolver that has at least a five-cartridge capacity with a barrel length of not less than three inches, and meets any of the following specifications:

(1)Was originally manufactured prior to 1900 and is a curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2)Has an overall length measured parallel to the barrel of at least seven and one-half inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled.

(3)Has an overall length measured parallel to the barrel of

at least seven and one-half inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled and that is currently approved for importation into the United States pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of Section 925 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

(b)Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall not apply to a single-shot pistol with a break top or bolt action and a barrel length of not less than six inches and that has an overall length of at least 10½ inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled. However, Article 4 (commencing with Section

31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall apply to a semiautomatic pistol that has been temporarily or permanently altered so that it will not fire in a semiautomatic mode.

§ 32103

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 572, Sec. 7. (AB 1127) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)A pistol may be submitted for testing described in Section 32010 and added to the roster described in subdivision (a) of Section 32015 without being subject to the requirements of subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 31910, or the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 32010, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1)The pistol was listed on the roster, described in subdivision (a) of Section 32015, on January 1, 2026.

(2)The pistol was not subject to the requirements of subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 31910 because it was submitted for testing before the dates identified in subdivision (d)

of Section 32010.

(3)The pistol was thereafter only modified to change design features which brought the pistol within the definition of machinegun-convertible pistol in Section 16885.

(4)The modified pistol is submitted to an independent certified laboratory for testing pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) of Chapter 4 before January 1, 2027.

(b)Any firearm meeting the requirements of this section shall be removed from the roster according to subdivision (b) of Section 31910 on the same timeline as the pistol that appeared on the roster prior to being modified pursuant to this section.

§ 32105

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 243. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.

(a)The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that fall within the definition of “unsafe handgun” pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 31910 shall be exempt, as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(b)Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall not apply to any of the following

pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subdivision (a):

(c)The department shall create a program that is consistent with the purpose stated in subdivision (a) to exempt new models of competitive firearms from Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000). The exempt competitive firearms may be based on recommendations by USA Shooting consistent with the regulations contained in the USA Shooting Official Rules or may be based on the recommendation or rules of any other organization that the department deems relevant.

§ 32110

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 251, Sec. 10. (SB 368) Effective January 1, 2024.

Article 4 (commencing with Section 31900) and Article 5 (commencing with Section 32000) shall not apply to any of the following:

(a)The sale, loan, or transfer of any firearm pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 28050) of Division 6 in order to comply with Section 27545.

(b)The sale, loan, or transfer of any firearm that is exempt from the provisions of Section 27545 pursuant to any applicable exemption contained in Article 2 (commencing with Section 27600) or Article 6 (commencing with Section 27850) of Chapter 4 of Division 6, if the sale, loan, or transfer complies with the requirements of that applicable exemption to

Section 27545.

(c)The sale, loan, or transfer of any firearm as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 32000.

(d)The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, for the purposes of the service or repair of that firearm.

(e)The return of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person by a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, to its owner where that firearm was initially delivered in the circumstances set forth in subdivision (a), (d), (f), (i), (l), or (m).

(f)The

delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, for the purpose of a

consignment sale or as collateral for a pawnbroker loan.

(g)The sale, loan, or transfer of any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person listed as a curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(h)The sale, loan, or transfer of any semiautomatic pistol that is to be used solely as a prop during the course of a motion picture, television, or video production by an authorized participant therein in the course of making that production or event or by an authorized employee or agent of the entity producing that production or event.

(i)The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a

person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, where the firearm is being loaned by the licensee to a consultant-evaluator.

(j)The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person by a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, where the firearm is being loaned by the licensee to a consultant-evaluator.

(k)The return of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, where it was initially delivered pursuant to subdivision (j).

(l)The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person to a person

licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, for the purposes of storage of that firearm pursuant to Section 26892 or 29830.

(m)The delivery of a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person by a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, to a person other than the owner pursuant to Section 26892.