douglas@netcom.com (Douglas Mason) (06/30/91)
I just moved to the Bay Area of California (Palo Alto) from Michigan 2 weeks ago and due to a fear of bringing a handgun across too many states, I left my very loved Italian 92F at home. (Hurts just to mention it! :-) ) Now that I am going to be here for awhile, I might go through the trouble (and expense) to have it shipped out here. First, a few questions: What is involved in getting a permit for range-shooting in CA? What are the costs involved? Where would I go for this? How long does it take? Is it just a quick state check or is it a long nation-wide check taking weeks? I know CA is extremely strict on guns, so I don't imagine anything being simple or cheap here. Any bizarre taxes? In Michigan it was simple - go down to the local Sheriff's office with your driver's license, they check you out to make sure you are a Good Person, and give you a purchase permit good for 10 days to buy a gun. After you get your gun (no waiting period -- you take it home with you immediately), you must bring the gun in and have the numbers recorded by the police and you only have to pay a few dollars (ie: under $5.00). Are there any inexpensive places to shoot around the Palo Alto area? Is ANYTHING inexpensive here? :-) -DM -- Douglas Mason douglas@netcom.COM Technical Support Services douglas@netcom.UUCP Freestone, Inc. - Redwood City, CA 94063 +01 415.368.0191
utidjian@remarque.berkeley.edu (David Utidjian) (07/01/91)
It is not as bad as you may think... where did you hear that you need a range permit? All you need to do to go shooting, is to go shooting. I live in the east bay, in Berkeley. I go to the Chabot Gun Club range in the hills east of here. Membership costs about $30/year fairly cheap if you shoot as often as I do (twice a week). The range is also open to the public at the same hours as for members.(Wed.-thru-Sun. 9am-5pm) Fee for the general public is $5 per day. There is skeet shooting also but I don't know what that costs. There is a 20 position 100 yard rifle range with benches and sandbags. You are allowed to shoot in any position. There is a 20 position 50 yard range. There is a 20 position 25 yard pistol range, with benches and sturdy blast dividers. The range is clean, well run, friendly place to shoot. I recommend weekdays at any range they tend to get crowded on weekends. There are some indoor ranges, one is the Optimus Club in San Leandro. I'm sure there are other clubs and ranges on your side of the bay let your fingers do the walking, call a local gun store and ask them. You do NOT need to register with local police. You do NOT need a permit to own a handgun. You do NOT need a permit to shoot at a range. You do NOT need a permit to bring a new handgun into the state, you may be required to register the firearm in CA. Actually check with your local gun store you may not be required to re-register your handgun if you bring it in yourself. You DO have to transport the firearm in a locked container. (check with the locals about particulars, I tend to over do it) You DO have to wait two weeks if you want to buy a new handgun from a regular FFL dealer. They do not bother to check out your background in that two weeks as far as I know.( We might not have had some of the problems that we have had if the backgrounds were checked.) You can buy all of the ammo that you want. You may not fire tracer ammunition anywhere that I know of in the state, except possibly indoor ranges. Some ranges have restrictions about AP ammo or FMJ ammo. If you have any other questions give me a call, 415-849-2230. Or send me email. Hope that helps. Happy shooting and welcome to California... -Dave- Utidjian at your service... email: utidjian@remarque.berkeley.edu