Q 1) What is the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition?

Q 2) Is there a waiting period & background check to purchase firearms?

Q 3) What do I need to purchase a firearm?

Q 4) What is an acceptable form of identification?

Q 5) I am in the military, Can I Buy A gun? What do I need?

Q 6) What do I need for proof of residency?

Q 7) What is an HSC card? Do I need one?

Q 8) Do I need to prove that I am a US Citizen?

Q 9) I am an Alien. Can I buy (or rent) a gun and/or ammunition?

Question 1) What is the minimum age to purchase firearms and ammunition?

Answer: The minimum age to purchase handguns or handgun ammunition is 21 years of age.

The minimum age to purchase rifles and shotguns or rifle and shotgun ammunition is 18 years of age.

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Question 2) Is there a waiting period & background check to purchase firearms?

Answer:

All firearms purchasers must pass a background check to ensure that they are not in a prohibited class.

For a list of prohibiting categories, go here: Prohibiting categories

Prohibiting categories In addition, a list of Prohibiting Misdemeanors is here:

Prohibiting Misdemeanors The background check is performed during the mandatory ten (10) day waiting period. Law Enforcement officers are exempted with an official letter. For waiting period purposes, 1 day equals 24 hours. All waiting periods are calculated exactly, including minutes, etc. Background check is valid for thirty (30) days from date of transmission to DOJ. This provides a twenty (20) day window in which to pick up a firearm, after the mandatory waiting period. Purchasers are limited to one handgun purchase per thirty (30) days, calculated from date & time of transmission to DOJ. Consignment & private party transfers are exempt from one gun every thirty days.

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Question 3) What do I need to purchase a firearm?

Answer:

a) You need an acceptable form(s) of identification. (see FAQ #4 below)

b) You need to reside in California and have proof of it. (see FAQ #6 below)

c) For handguns you need to either have a HSC card or be exempt. (see FAQ #7 below)

d) Thumbprint: Purchaser must provide thumbprint at time of sale.

e) Safe Handling Demonstration: Before firearm is picked up, customer must be able to perform a safe handling demonstration to prove that he / she can load, unload, lock, unlock, and safely handle the firearm. This test is performed here in the store, under the supervision of our personnel.

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Question 4) What is an acceptable form of identification?

Answer:

A valid California driver’s license, California State ID card, or Military ID. (Military see FAQ #X5 below for more information). No temporary, invalidated or expired licenses are permitted. License must be electronically scanned; if unable to be scanned, then a photocopy must be retained. Driver’s licenses that have been invalidated due to outstanding tickets or other serious problems will prevent transfer.

If your ID has either an outdated residence address or a P.O. box listed as your address, then Federal Law requires an additional government identification that lists your physical address or new, current address.
Some acceptable forms of secondary ID are: DMV change of address card, voter registration card, DMV Automobile Registration, Security Guard Card, CCW permit, etc.

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Question 5) I am in the military, Can I Buy A gun? What do I need?

Answer:

Service Members with a Military ID and a copy of purchaser's current orders showing a permanent duty station in California qualify as proof of residency for firearms purchases and Military ID is proof of exemption from handgun HSC requirements.

No temporary duty orders are acceptable if permanent duty is outside of California. If no permanent duty station orders are available, a letter from the purchaser's command on official letterhead stating permanent duty status in California; otherwise, purchaser must have either a California driver's license or California State ID Card.

A California driver’s license or California State ID card may be used for identification purposes with appropriate proof of address documentation (see FAQ #6), and Active Duty Military ID may be used for HSC exemption.

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Question 6) What do I need for proof of residency?

Answer:

For all firearms, Federal law requires a government issued identification that shows residence address.

If your ID has a P.O. Box or outdated residence address, a second form of government issued license or ID is required. Some acceptable examples that can show current residence address are: DMV address update card, voter registration card, automobile registration, or other government issued document that shows your residence address.

Additionally for handguns, California requires proof of residency, even if your State issued ID has your current address. Some acceptable examples are: automobile registration, voter registration card, rental or lease agreement, utility bill, or other government issued license that has an expiration date. Here are all acceptable forms of proof of residency:

CA acceptable Proof of residency: CA acceptable Proof of residency

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Question 7) What is an HSC card? Do I need one?

Answer:

Handgun purchasers must have a valid Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) to purchase a handgun. Discount Gun Mart is an officially authorized test provider for California’s HSC program. The HSC test is comprised of a 30 question multiple choice test, similar to the DMV driver’s test. A study guide in Adobe PDF may be downloaded here:
HSC study guide Certain people are exempted from the HSC requirement. For a list of exemptions, go here:
HSC exemptions

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Question 8) Do I need to prove that I am a US Citizen?

Answer:

No, US citizens do not need to provide proof. Personal information is verified during background check.

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Question 9) I am an Alien. Can I buy (or rent) a gun and/or ammunition?

Answer:

Yes. Resident aliens may possess, purchase & rent firearms & purchase ammunition. In certain cases, non-resident aliens may also.

To purchase, rent or possess firearms or ammunition, in the United States, aliens must satisfy special requirements. For firearms purchases, all aliens, both immigrant and non-immigrant, must provide documentation proving continuous resident status.

Documents to prove resident alien status are as follows:

i. “A” number must be provided on 4473, and DROS; copy of INS issued Alien registration card or Admission number (form I94W).

ii. Documented proof of continuous residency in CA for 90 days. Example: three consecutive utility bills in purchasers name, or three consecutive rent receipts.
Purchaser cannot have left the country in the last 90 days, even for a short visit.

In addition, non-immigrant aliens must meet one of these exemptions:

i. Nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid hunting license or permit lawfully issued by a State in the United States.

ii. Nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show sponsored by a national, State, or local firearms trade organization devoted to the competitive use or other sporting use of firearms.

iii. Diplomats with diplomatic passports and permission from your Country's embassy.

iv. Officials of foreign governments or distinguished foreign visitors so designated by the U.S. State Department.

v. Foreign law enforcement officers of friendly foreign governments entering the United States on official law enforcement business.

vi. Persons who have received a waiver from the prohibition from the U.S. Attorney General.

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