Introduction
California weapons laws are constantly changing.   The most important issue is awareness for applicable citizens to know the present laws enforced.   California Penal Code 12285 is applicable to owners of assault weapons.   An assault rifle is defined as a selective fire rifle or carbine, chambering intermediate-powered ammunition.   An assault rifle is categorized between the larger and heavier light machine gun, which is intended more for sustained automatic fire in a support role, and the smaller submachine gun, which fires a handgun cartridge rather than a rifle cartridge.   Many citizens of California legally possess certain models of assault rifles that are being rescheduled and banned often under California code.   It is important for the owners of these rifles to be up to date with the law and aware.   Failure of responsiveness to the law can be punishable in large fines and/or time in prison to the uninformed gun owner.

Codes

California Penal Code 12285
(a) (1) Any person who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, as defined in Section 12276, prior to June 1, 1989, shall register the firearm by January 1, 1991, and any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was specified as an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276.5 shall register the firearm within 90 days with the Department of Justice pursuant to those procedures that the department may establish.   Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 12280, any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was defined as an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276.1, and which was not specified as an assault weapon
under Section 12276 or 12276.5, shall register the firearm within one year of the effective date of Section 12276.1, with the department pursuant to those procedures that the department may establish.   The registration shall contain a description of the
firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks,... [continues]

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