Article 1 - Possession of Firearm

California Penal Code — §§ 29610-29615

Sections (2)

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 250, Sec. 21. (SB 715) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)A minor shall not possess a handgun.
(b)A minor shall not possess a semiautomatic centerfire rifle.
(c)Commencing July 1, 2023, a minor shall not possess any firearm.
(d)The provisions of this section are cumulative, and shall not be construed as restricting the application of any other law. However, an act or omission punishable in different ways by different provisions of this code shall not be punished under more than one provision.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 362, Sec. 2. (AB 383) Effective January 1, 2026.

Section 29610 shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:

(a)The minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves this use of a firearm.
(b)The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport,

including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(c)The minor is at least 16 years of age, the minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(d)The minor has the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, the minor is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by the parent or

legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(e)The minor possesses, with the express permission of their parent or legal guardian, a firearm, other than a handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle, and both of the following are true:
(1)The minor is actively engaged in, or in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or an agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(2)The minor is 16 years of age or older or is accompanied by a responsible adult at all times while the minor is possessing the firearm.