2009 California Penal Code - Section 12000-12003 :: Article 1. General Provisions

12000.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The
Dangerous Weapons Control Law."

12001.  (a) (1) As used in this title, the terms "pistol,"
"revolver," and "firearm capable of being concealed upon the person"
shall apply to and include any device designed to be used as a
weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any
explosion, or other form of combustion, and that has a barrel less
than 16 inches in length. These terms also include any device that
has a barrel 16 inches or more in length which is designed to be
interchanged with a barrel less than 16 inches in length.
   (2) As used in this title, the term "handgun" means any "pistol,"
"revolver," or "firearm capable of being concealed upon the person."
   (b) As used in this title, "firearm" means any device, designed to
be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a
projectile by the force of any explosion or other form of combustion.
   (c) As used in Sections 12021, 12021.1, 12070, 12071, 12072,
12073, 12078, 12101, and 12801 of this code, and Sections 8100, 8101,
and 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the term "firearm"
includes the frame or receiver of the weapon.
   (d) For the purposes of Sections 12025 and 12031, the term
"firearm" also shall include any rocket, rocket propelled projectile
launcher, or similar device containing any explosive or incendiary
material whether or not the device is designed for emergency or
distress signaling purposes.
   (e) For purposes of Sections 12070, 12071, and paragraph (8) of
subdivision (a), and subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (f) of Section
12072, the term "firearm" does not include an unloaded firearm that
is defined as an "antique firearm" in Section 921(a)(16) of Title 18
of the United States Code.
   (f) Nothing shall prevent a device defined as a "handgun,"
"pistol," "revolver," or "firearm capable of being concealed upon the
person" from also being found to be a short-barreled shotgun or a
short-barreled rifle, as defined in Section 12020.
   (g) For purposes of Sections 12551 and 12552, the term "BB device"
means any instrument that expels a projectile, such as a BB or a
pellet, not exceeding 6mm caliber, through the force of air pressure,
gas pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun.
   (h) As used in this title, "wholesaler" means any person who is
licensed as a dealer pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section
921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued
pursuant thereto who sells, transfers, or assigns firearms, or parts
of firearms, to persons who are licensed as manufacturers,
importers, or gunsmiths pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with
Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code, or persons
licensed pursuant to Section 12071, and includes persons who receive
finished parts of firearms and assemble them into completed or
partially completed firearms in furtherance of that purpose.
   "Wholesaler" shall not include a manufacturer, importer, or
gunsmith who is licensed to engage in those activities pursuant to
Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United
States Code or a person licensed pursuant to Section 12071 and the
regulations issued pursuant thereto. A wholesaler also does not
include those persons dealing exclusively in grips, stocks, and other
parts of firearms that are not frames or receivers thereof.
   (i) As used in Section 12071 or 12072, "application to purchase"
means any of the following:
   (1) The initial completion of the register by the purchaser,
transferee, or person being loaned the firearm as required by
subdivision (b) of Section 12076.
   (2) The initial completion and transmission to the department of
the record of electronic or telephonic transfer by the dealer on the
purchaser, transferee, or person being loaned the firearm as required
by subdivision (c) of Section 12076.
   (j) For purposes of Section 12023, a firearm shall be deemed to be
"loaded" whenever both the firearm and the unexpended ammunition
capable of being discharged from the firearm are in the immediate
possession of the same person.
   (k) For purposes of Sections 12021, 12021.1, 12025, 12070, 12072,
12073, 12078, 12101, and 12801 of this code, and Sections 8100, 8101,
and 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, notwithstanding the
fact that the term "any firearm" may be used in those sections, each
firearm or the frame or receiver of the same shall constitute a
distinct and separate offense under those sections.
   (l) For purposes of Section 12020, a violation of that section as
to each firearm, weapon, or device enumerated therein shall
constitute a distinct and separate offense.
   (m) Each application that requires any firearms eligibility
determination involving the issuance of any license, permit, or
certificate pursuant to this title shall include two copies of the
applicant's fingerprints on forms prescribed by the Department of
Justice. One copy of the fingerprints may be submitted to the United
States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
   (n) As used in this chapter, a "personal handgun importer" means
an individual who meets all of the following criteria:
   (1) He or she is not a person licensed pursuant to Section 12071.
   (2) He or she is not a licensed manufacturer of firearms pursuant
to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United
States Code.
   (3) He or she is not a licensed importer of firearms pursuant to
Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United
States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
   (4) He or she is the owner of a handgun.
   (5) He or she acquired that handgun outside of California.
   (6) He or she moves into this state on or after January 1, 1998,
as a resident of this state.
   (7) He or she intends to possess that handgun within this state on
or after January 1, 1998.
   (8) The handgun was not delivered to him or her by a person
licensed pursuant to Section 12071 who delivered that firearm
following the procedures set forth in Section 12071 and subdivision
(c) of Section 12072.
   (9) He or she, while a resident of this state, had not previously
reported his or her ownership of that handgun to the Department of
Justice in a manner prescribed by the department that included
information concerning him or her and a description of the firearm.
   (10) The handgun is not a firearm that is prohibited by
subdivision (a) of Section 12020.
   (11) The handgun is not an assault weapon, as defined in Section
12276 or 12276.1.
   (12) The handgun is not a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200.
   (13) The person is 18 years of age or older.
   (o) For purposes of paragraph (6) of subdivision (n):
   (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), residency shall be
determined in the same manner as is the case for establishing
residency pursuant to Section 12505 of the Vehicle Code.
   (2) In the case of members of the Armed Forces of the United
States, residency shall be deemed to be established when he or she
was discharged from active service in this state.
   (p) As used in this code, "basic firearms safety certificate"
means a certificate issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to
Article 8 (commencing with Section 12800) of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of
Part 4, prior to January 1, 2003.
   (q) As used in this code, "handgun safety certificate" means a
certificate issued by the Department of Justice pursuant to Article 8
(commencing with Section 12800) of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of Part 4,
as that article is operative on or after January 1, 2003.
   (r) As used in this title, "gunsmith" means any person who is
licensed as a dealer pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section
921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued
pursuant thereto, who is engaged primarily in the business of
repairing firearms, or making or fitting special barrels, stocks, or
trigger mechanisms to firearms, or the agent or employee of that
person.
   (s) As used in this title, "consultant-evaluator" means a
consultant or evaluator who, in the course of his or her profession
is loaned firearms from a person licensed pursuant to Chapter 44
(commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code
and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, for his or her research
or evaluation, and has a current certificate of eligibility issued to
him or her pursuant to Section 12071.

12001.1.  (a) Any person in this state who commercially manufactures
or causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports
into the state for commercial sale, or who knowingly exports out of
this state for commercial, dealer, wholesaler, or distributor sale,
or who keeps for commercial sale, or offers or exposes for
commercial, dealer, wholesaler, or distributor sale, any undetectable
knife is guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, an
"undetectable knife" means any knife or other instrument with or
without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon
that may inflict great bodily injury or death that is commercially
manufactured to be used as a weapon and is not detectable by a metal
detector or magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, that is set
at standard calibration.
   (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing January
1, 2000, all knives or other instrument with or without a handguard
that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict
great bodily injury or death that are commercially manufactured in
this state that utilize materials that are not detectable by a metal
detector or magnetometer, shall be manufactured to include materials
that will ensure they are detectable by a metal detector or
magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, that is set at standard
calibration.
   (c) This section shall not apply to the manufacture or importation
of undetectable knives for sale to a law enforcement or military
entity with a valid agency, department, or unit purchase order, nor
shall this section apply to the subsequent sale of these knives to a
law enforcement or military entity.
   (d) This section shall not apply to the manufacture or importation
of undetectable knives for sale to federal, state, and local
historical societies, museums, and institutional collections which
are open to the public, provided that the undetectable knives are
properly housed and secured from unauthorized handling, nor shall
this section apply to the subsequent sale of the knives to these
societies, museums, and collections.

12001.5.  Except as expressly provided in Section 12020, and solely
in accordance with Section 12020, no person may manufacture, import
into this state, keep for sale, offer for sale, give, lend, or
possess any short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle, as
defined in Section 12020, and nothing else in this chapter shall be
construed as authorizing the manufacture, importation into the state,
keeping for sale, offering for sale, or giving, lending, or
possession of any short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle, as
defined in Section 12020.

12001.6.  As used in this chapter, an offense which involves the
violent use of a firearm includes any of the following:
   (a) A violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) of
Section 245 or a violation of subdivision (d) of Section 245.
   (b) A violation of Section 246.
   (c) A violation of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section
417.
   (d) A violation of subdivision (c) of Section 417.

12002.  (a) Nothing in this chapter prohibits police officers,
special police officers, peace officers, or law enforcement officers
from carrying any wooden club, baton, or any equipment authorized for
the enforcement of law or ordinance in any city or county.
   (b) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a uniformed security guard,
regularly employed and compensated by a person engaged in any lawful
business, while actually employed and engaged in protecting and
preserving property or life within the scope of his or her
employment, from carrying any wooden club or baton if the uniformed
security guard has satisfactorily completed a course of instruction
certified by the Department of Consumer Affairs in the carrying and
use of the club or baton. The training institution certified by the
Department of Consumer Affairs to present this course, whether public
or private, is authorized to charge a fee covering the cost of the
training.
   (c) The Department of Consumer Affairs, in cooperation with the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, shall develop
standards for a course in the carrying and use of the club or baton.
   (d) Any uniformed security guard who successfully completes a
course of instruction under this section is entitled to receive a
permit to carry and use a club or baton within the scope of his or
her employment, issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The
department may authorize certified training institutions to issue
permits to carry and use a club or baton. A fee in the amount
provided by law shall be charged by the Department of Consumer
Affairs to offset the costs incurred by the department in course
certification, quality control activities associated with the course,
and issuance of the permit.
   (e) Any person who has received a permit or certificate which
indicates satisfactory completion of a club or baton training course
approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
prior to January 1, 1983, shall not be required to obtain a baton or
club permit or complete a course certified by the Department of
Consumer Affairs.
   (f) Any person employed as a county sheriff's or police security
officer, as defined in Section 831.4, shall not be required to obtain
a club or baton permit or to complete a course certified by the
Department of Consumer Affairs in the carrying and use of a club or
baton, provided that the person completes a course approved by the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in the carrying
and use of the club or baton, within 90 days of employment.
   (g) Nothing in this chapter prohibits an animal control officer,
as described in Section 830.9, or an illegal dumping enforcement
officer, as described in Section 830.7, from carrying any wooden club
or baton if the animal control officer or illegal dumping
enforcement officer has satisfactorily completed a course of
instruction certified by the Department of Consumer Affairs in the
carrying and use of the club or baton. The training institution
certified by the Department of Consumer Affairs to present this
course, whether public or private, is authorized to charge a fee
covering the cost of the training.

12003.  If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of
this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of
this chapter. The Legislature hereby declares that it would have
passed this act and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and
phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other
sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared
unconstitutional.