If I Register My Ar As An Assault Weapon Can I Have A Mag Release?

Note as of one/1/2018: I see that some people are notwithstanding asking questions in the comments section of this article. I no longer monitor this article for questions. Feel complimentary to connect with us on Facebook and I will be happy to answer your questions there.

(Article Updated 1/12/2017) – Updates include clarity to the AR MAGLOCK and Patriot Mag Release and minor changes not worth noting.

First, all the dopey caveats; you are responsible for knowing the attack weapons police and I am not a lawyer, nor is any of the below legal advice. I welcome corrections if you lot notice any of the below to exist inaccurate. This is all new so uncertainty is everywhere. The below is based on my reading of the police. The DOJ may interpret and enforce it differently than it is written. I volition update in future articles as we larn more than from the DOJ.

What happened?

Governor Brown signed five gun control laws on Friday morning, July 1st (Independence Weekend, oh the irony). This article volition address merely one of those 5 bills; the re-defining of set on weapons and registration requirement (SB 880/ AB 1135). I will discuss what the other iv bills mean in a separate mail service later this week. It just get'south as well long to talk over all of them in a unmarried article. Since Friday morning time, our little gun store has received hundreds and hundreds of phone calls and customers asking the aforementioned question, "What the F*** just happened and what does it mean for me?". This article is meant to respond that question.

What exercise SB 880 and AB 1135 exercise?

California has been trying to eliminate and/or criminalize possession of AR and AK mode rifles for 17 years. Since the Assail Weapons Control Act of 1989 California has defined an "assault weapon" as any semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a removable magazine PLUS whatever of the following evil features (oversimplified for relevance and brevity):

Pistol grip
Frontward pistol grip
Adjustable stock
Wink suppressor

For the remainder of this article I will refer to the in a higher place listing as "evil features". The cardinal word here is "Removable Magazine." Since 2007, California AR and AK owners have been able to use a bullet button to avert the classification of "assail weapon." Since the bullet button required a tool to drib the magazine, it did not qualify as a "removable magazine." Instead it was considered to be a "fixed magazine." Since the rifle had a "fixed magazine" information technology was not an assault weapon. SB 880/ AB 1135 redefine a "stock-still magazine" to be something that "cannot exist removed without disassembly of the firearm action." Since bullet buttons don't require the disassembly of the firearm action, even a rifle with a bullet push installed is at present an "assault weapon." Rifles with a bullet button are at present considered to have a "removable magazine," not a "stock-still mag." Basically, nosotros've all been using the bullet button "loophole" in the constabulary to go on our rifles legal and the regime just closed that loophole.

You may not purchase a rifle after January 1, 2017 that has any of the above evil features AND a "removable magazine." Nor tin can you build a stripped lower that was purchased later on January 1, 2017 to include evil features and a removable mag. After January 1, 2017 you lot cannot buy a rifle with evil features from either a dealer or a private party unless information technology uses an "AR MAGLOCK" or "Patriot Mag Release" (more than on this device later). You must also register any "assault weapon" yous own with the California DOJ Before Jan one, 2018. You are guilty of a felony if you do not register your weapon with CAL DOJ earlier this time or remove the evil features or install an AR MAGLOCK/ Patriot Mag Release device. Registration of an assault weapon will be done via a website and require a fee of $xx. The fee is, of grade, subject to modify. You can only register weapons you owned prior to January 1, 2017 as taking possession of or building an "assault weapon" later this time is illegal.

What does owning an "assault weapon" mean?

If you annals your gun every bit an assault weapon, there are draconian limitations on how yous own and transport the gun. You can never sell, give, lend, or merchandise an assault weapon to some other person. Nor can you hand downward an "assault weapon" to your spouse, children, or grandchildren. If you move out of the state, y'all cannot movement dorsum into the country with your guns. If your gun needs to go to a gunsmith, you must remain with your gun while it is being worked on.

What happens to my guns when I die?

When you die, your "assail weapon" essentially dies with yous. When you dice, your guns will mostly be handed down past bequest or by succession, usually to your spouse or children. With the implementation of these laws, your spouse or child (or whoever) has no more than 90 days to send the guns out of state, return them permanently inoperable, or to plow them over to law enforcement for destruction. If your spouse or child has possession of the guns ninety days afterwards your death, they have committed a felony punishable by 16 to 36 months in canton jail and substantial fines.

Can I lend my gun to my friend so he can go hunting for the twenty-four hour period?

No. You lot can never lend your registered "assail weapon" to someone else for any reason. If y'all loan your rifle to a friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc. for any reason, you have both committed a felony punishable by sixteen to 36 months in county jail. The gun is not allowed to be out of your possession. You can merely allow a friend use your gun if you are in immediate proximity to the gun at all times. That means, if you stay in one tree stand up and your friend walks l yards up the route to the next hide and posts upward with your gun, you take both committed a felony.

When does this become into bear on?

Yous may not purchase an AR with any of the evil features or a stripped lower that will contain evil features after Jan one, 2017. You must annals any gun with evil features and a removable magazine with the Cal DOJ and pay the fee before January i, 2018.

Can I avoid registering my gun every bit an "set on weapon"?

Under this law you have three options if y'all want to avoid a felony; register the gun every bit an assault weapon, OR remove the evil features from the gun, OR install a device that requires you to break the activity of your AR open up (i.east. disassemble the receiver) to remove the mag. Y'all exercise NOT need to register the gun every bit an "assault weapon" if you commit to i of the other 2 options.

AR Maglock requires you to "disassemble the action" in order to remove the magazine.

The AR Maglock and Patriot Mag Release require y'all to "disassemble the action" to drop the mag.

As an culling to registering, you lot can install a device that requires yous to disassemble the activity in order to remove the mag. There are two options for this called the AR MAGLOCK and the Patriot Mag Release. (The Patriot Mag Release was originally called the Bullet Button Reloaded). A video of how these devices piece of work can be establish hither (ARM) and hither (PMR). These devices require yous to break the gun open (i.eastward. disassemble the receiver) to driblet the mag. Past definition, this means you no longer have a "removable magazine" on your AR. Recollect, an assail weapon is defined as a gun with BOTH evil features and a removable magazine. If there is no removable magazine so there is no "assault weapon". There is a like device for AKs called the AK MagLatch. There is a video of this device in action here.

Alternatively, you can remove all evil features from your gun. You'll take to use a "shark fin" grip instead of a pistol grip. This is a piece of plastic that prevents your thumb from wrapping around the grip. If you accept a flash hider, you lot volition need to replace it with a compensator. If you accept a compensator that has a flash hider on the end (similar the VG6 Epsilon), you'll need to supercede it with one that doesn't (similar the VG6 Gamma). Your adjustable carbine stock must be replaced with a non-adjustable rifle stock or be permanently pinned in place. You cannot have a forrad pistol grip. If you lot remove all of the evil features from your gun, then y'all tin have a standard mag release. No more than bullet buttons if you get this route.

This rifle is featureless and does not meet the definition of an "assault weapon"

What does "Characterless" hateful?

Featureless means no evil features. See the paragraph in a higher place. If you have a characterless rifle then yous do not need to register it as an "assault weapon." However, afterward January ane, 2018 a featureless rifle tin never over again be turned back into a rife that contains any of the evil features. Once featureless, the burglarize is forever featureless.

What Nearly AR Pistols?

AR pistols have the aforementioned requirements as AR rifles, but with a kicker just to brand you lot even angrier. While handguards (sometimes called "track") are fine on a burglarize, they are considered to exist an evil feature on a pistol. Therefore, it isn't possible to make an AR/ AK pistol characterless. Your AR pistol is an "set on weapon" as of January 1, 2017 and must be registered with the Cal DOJ before January i, 2018. Alternatively, yous can utilize the AR MAGLOCK or Patriot Mag Release as described to avoid registering.

What Nearly AK Pistols?

As with AR pistols, AK pistols cannot be fabricated featureless. AK pistols will demand to be registered before January ane, 2018 or must use a device like to the AR MAGLOCK called the AK MagLatch.

What about lxxx% Lowers?

Same as above. Your AR rifle or AR pistol built on an 80% is an "assault weapon" if it contains any of the evil features described above. If you lot wish to keep those evil features on your gun, and then you lot are required to serialize it and register it with the Cal DOJ before January 1, 2018. Of course, you tin still employ the AR MAGLOCK/ Patriot Mag Release or make the gun featureless to avoid registration.

Does this mean I tin remove my bullet push button and use a standard "costless land" mag release?

Unfortunately, no. The DOJ made up new law out of thin air (that'due south how things get washed in California) and alleged that a person registering their assault weapon must keep the bullet button on the gun. There is absolutely null in the law that says this. The regulatory authority (the DOJ) just fabricated it up.

What virtually my bolt action gun?

This applies to semi-auto guns only. Bolt action rifles are non affected.

What about my 22lr caliber rifles?

The police specifies "centerfire" rifles. 22lr caliber rifles and other rimfire guns are not affected. However, a 22LR pistol can be considered an assault weapon if it too contains evil features. Only rifles have the "centerfire carve out."

What nearly my Glock/ 1911, etc. pistol?

SB 880/ AB 1135 define an "assault pistol" (I swear I didn't make upwards that term) every bit having "A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer's hand, except a slide that encloses the butt." That basically means an AR-style handguard. Handgun slides like you find on a Glock are exempted. Lesser line, this doesn't touch your semi-auto 1911/ Glock-style handguns.

Can I all the same purchase stripped lowers afterwards January 1, 2017?

Yes. Y'all can all the same buy stripped lowers afterwards Jan ane, 2017, however, they cannot be built into "assail weapons". All lowers purchased afterward Jan ane, 2017 MUST be built equally featureless rifles or built with the AR MAGLOCK or Patriot Magazine Release.

Can I sell my rifle after January one, 2017?

If you registered your gun as an "assault weapon", and so you cannot ever sell, trade, lend, transfer, donate, or pass it down. That burglarize is attached to you forever and dies with you. Repeat: Y'all cannot sell an "assault weapon". However, you lot can sell a featureless burglarize. You can also sell a rifle with the AR MAGLOCK/ Patriot Magazine Release. Meet next item below.

Can I plough my "assault weapon" into a featureless gun to sell it?

Yes. You tin plough your registered "assault weapon" into a characterless gun and sell, trade, transfer, or pass it downward. However, y'all must "DE-REGISTER" the gun with the DOJ. There is a procedure for De-registering the gun. Once the gun is De-registered and fabricated featureless, so it cannot e'er exist turned dorsum into an "set on weapon." It must remain featureless (or use the AR MAGLOCK) forever even by the new owner.

What if I alive out of state and am moving to California. Can I bring my rifle with me?

No. California strictly forbids the import of "assault weapons." If you bring your gun into California after January 1, 2017 so yous are a felon the moment you cross the state line. After January one, 2017 all rifles must be fabricated featureless or install the AR MAGLOCK/ Patriot Magazine Release before they come into the state.

The only exception to this is for military personnel being transferred to the state of California on orders. If you are ordered to California, then you may bring your "assault weapons" with you, merely you lot must register them with the Cal DOJ then all of the other rules regarding sale, transfer, lending, inheriting, etc. utilise. War machine personnel on orders are the only people who can register an assail weapon subsequently January i, 2018. Anyone else coming into the state must make their rifle characterless, instal the AR MAGLOCK or go out the rifle behind when they move.

I promise the above helps. As always I remain bachelor to answer questions. Questions/ Comments can exist posted below or on Facebook. (Updated one/12/17: I volition do my best to revisit this article from time to fourth dimension and answer questions posted beneath. However, it is offset to go unmanageable. Questions posted on FB are normally answered within a few hours.)