Any Other Weapon (AOW)s in 2026?

[TheRatDragon]

I have two pending, 1 from Jan and 1 from March. PGO shotgun "other" and an AR pistol I am adding a VFG to. No responses from the ATF so I am currently going through my federal congressman to have this worked out. I'll update when I have an update, just got off the phone with them should be 45 business days.

Wow, they really are f*cking over everyone that has applied recently. And I mean everyone. Back when I did my first eForm 4 attempt, it was basically told to me to expect a denial but eventually you'd get approved and that's exactly what happened but now they aren't denying anyone. They aren't approving either. It's so bad. Multiple people have told me including in this thread that the ATF has attempted to contact the CADOJ for more clarification and clarity on whether AOWs are legal here or not and the CADOJ hasn't and will not respond. It's wild man. At least you don't have to pay for the tax stamp anymore, I was lucky I only had to pay 5 dollars but before this year, all eForm 1s were 200 bucks. Can you imagine them doing this while you're 200 dollars in the hole? F*cking hell.

Someone needs to contact that ATF Director on Instagram or X or whatever and ask him what the hell is going on? Apparently he's been very transparent and communicative with everyone who DMs him. Try DMing the ATF Director, we could get some leeway here.

 

[M_N04H]

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live? Not exactly where, just your general area. There's also a website where you can see who your local representative and senator is. But you want to first contact your LOCAL representative even if they are anti-gun. Once that doesn't work you move on to your nearest pro-gun representative.

Long Beach

 

[TheRatDragon]

Long Beach

Robert Garcia (D) is your local representative and represents you in the United States Congress. He is unfortunately in favor of policies and laws that limits our 2nd Amendment rights but you still have to contact him first to try and attempt resolution. If he does not aid you, you may move on to a more favorable representative.

Here's his website and link to email him: https://robertgarcia.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact

 

[M_N04H]

Robert Garcia (D) is your local representative and represents you in the United States Congress. He is unfortunately in favor of policies and laws that limits our 2nd Amendment rights but you still have to contact him first to try and attempt resolution. If he does not aid you, you may move on to a more favorable representative.

Here's his website and link to email him: https://robertgarcia.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact

Didn't realize I can start right there. I know of this schmuck. OK thanks.

 

[TheRatDragon]

Didn't realize I can start right there. I know of this schmuck. OK thanks.

Yeah, I have it worse when it comes to local representatives tbh lmfao. I have Laura Friedman as my local representative and after being disapproved twice and on the verge of f*cking giving up on my AOW, I was going to contact her only if 2A Zone hadn't been able to get my AOW approved and luckily they were able to get me approved after talking to the ATF at Shot Show. I'm so thankful I didn't have to but also I completely sympathize with you and everyone else going through this BS because I went through it myself. Though not as bad as you guys have it. I just really hope they start approving AOWs for Californians again soon.

 

[CadeH]

Wow, they really are f*cking over everyone that has applied recently. And I mean everyone. Back when I did my first eForm 4 attempt, it was basically told to me to expect a denial but eventually you'd get approved and that's exactly what happened but now they aren't denying anyone. They aren't approving either. It's so bad. Multiple people have told me including in this thread that the ATF has attempted to contact the CADOJ for more clarification and clarity on whether AOWs are legal here or not and the CADOJ hasn't and will not respond. It's wild man. At least you don't have to pay for the tax stamp anymore, I was lucky I only had to pay 5 dollars but before this year, all eForm 1s were 200 bucks. Can you imagine them doing this while you're 200 dollars in the hole? F*cking hell.

Someone needs to contact that ATF Director on Instagram or X or whatever and ask him what the hell is going on? Apparently he's been very transparent and communicative with everyone who DMs him. Try DMing the ATF Director, we could get some leeway here.

From what I gathered from talking to the assistant with my congressman its pretty much an underground regulation from the CADOJ limiting the ATF's ability to approve these stamps. The ATF needs state approval before they can approve them, the state is not fulfilling their end of it so the ATF's hands are tied. From what if sounds like I am one of the first to submit an official inquiry form about it, so maybe it will get the ball rolling. If not I will be contacting my state legislature member and start a state inquiry, and if I can I'll submit an underground regulation report with the OAL as well.

 

[TheRatDragon]

From what I gathered from talking to the assistant with my congressman its pretty much an underground regulation from the CADOJ limiting the ATF's ability to approve these stamps. The ATF needs state approval before they can approve them, the state is not fulfilling their end of it so the ATF's hands are tied. From what if sounds like I am one of the first to submit an official inquiry form about it, so maybe it will get the ball rolling. If not I will be contacting my state legislature member and start a state inquiry, and if I can I'll submit an underground regulation report with the OAL as well.

What I don't understand was how the hell did myself and others get approved while you guys are having this issue? I'm so confused on that! Literally. The laws have not changed at all when it comes to AOWs.

Did the CADOJ just all of a sudden decide to stop giving the ATF the thumbs up on AOW tax stamp applications? I mean it all ties back to the CADOJ regardless and you're definitely onto something but still, for decades no problems. ALL of a sudden 2026 rolls around and this sh*t starts happening. Remember how the CADOJ randomly decided that COEs could not be approved without FFL03s or something like that when for years you could apply for your COE while you wait for your FFL03 papers and approval. Then they changed their policy on that and quoted some part of the penal code that had nothing to do with COEs requiring an FFL03 whatsoever. And then the courts told them that was unconstitutional and now they're back to what they were doing beforehand. Is this kinda what's happening with the AOW situation? Just the CADOJ just deciding to be arbitrary and unconstitutional?

 

[CadeH]

What I don't understand was how the hell did myself and others get approved while you guys are having this issue? I'm so confused on that! Literally. The laws have not changed at all when it comes to AOWs.

CADOJ policy changed in like July of last year and now they no longer respond to the ATF about them. There are 1600 in the state but they've only approved 81 in the last 5 years, they're an extremely niche firearm really.

 

[TheRatDragon]

CADOJ policy changed in like July of last year and now they no longer respond to the ATF about them. There are 1600 in the state but they've only approved 81 in the last 5 years, they're an extremely niche firearm really.

So I'm one of only 81 people basically?

 

[LarpAnonymous]

So I'm one of only 81 people basically?

I guess I am 1 of the 81 as well.

I think I submitted mine in 2020 or 2021

 

[M_N04H]

5 months since application was submitted, still waiting

 

[TheRatDragon]

I guess I am 1 of the 81 as well.

I think I submitted mine in 2020 or 2021

What was your AOW if you don't mind me asking?

 

[TheRatDragon]

5 months since application was submitted, still waiting

Yeah this seems to be a common f*cking theme here with the CADOJ. It's not the ATF's fault necessarily though I will argue that technically they don't need CADOJ approval, they can look up themselves to see if AOWs are legal which they are and for years it seems the CADOJ just told the ATF yeah they're legal or just gave them a thumbs up but now they're not responding to any ATF requests. So yeah, as f*cked up as it is, it seems like you and a lot of people are going to be waiting for a long time. We need to get into contact with the ATF director about this.

 

[CadeH]

So I'm one of only 81 people basically?

 

[TheRatDragon]

View attachment 219415

Holy f*ckeroo, how did you acquire these numbers? And these are from the ATF? And are these just AOW ownership numbers or are they other NFA items too? Does it differentiate eForm 1 approvals from eForm 4 approvals?

 

[CadeH]

Holy f*ckeroo, how did you acquire these numbers? And these are from the ATF? And are these just AOW ownership numbers or are they other NFA items too? Does it differentiate eForm 1 approvals from eForm 4 approvals?

Those are just AOWs, they didn't differentiate between Form 1s and Form 4s. I submitted a freedom of information act request with the ATF to get the numbers.

 

[TheRatDragon]

Those are just AOWs, they didn't differentiate between Form 1s and Form 4s. I submitted a freedom of information act request with the ATF to get the numbers.

I'm confused on these numbers because according to Firearms Commerce Report from 2024 published on the ATF's website, it says there are 5,106 AOWs in the state of California. So is the number of AOWs you received for private individuals only or is one report or the other inaccurate?

 

[CadeH]

I'm confused on these numbers because according to Firearms Commerce Report from 2024 published on the ATF's website, it says there are 5,106 AOWs in the state of California. So is the number of AOWs you received for private individuals only or is one report or the other inaccurate?

"Hello,
I am looking for information regarding the status of "Any Other Weapons" in the state of California and any information regarding any changes in status for these weapons. I am also looking for information such as how many of these firearms are currently registered in the state to individual persons, and any correspondence between the government of California and the ATF regarding state laws and the legality of these weapons in the state. If there are any department memos or information provided to employees regarding processing these tax stamps for Californians, please include that as well." with the time requested being 1/1/2020 to 3/9/26 was what I had asked. It should not include corporations or law enforcement agencies. This was the only thing they had provided, no additional documentation or memos regarding AOWs here.

I submitted another one for the totals in 2025 and 2026, but I forgot to ask for it to be just private individuals so it is a bit worthless for us. I'll submit another one for individuals when I am not at work.

 

[TheRatDragon]

"Hello,
I am looking for information regarding the status of "Any Other Weapons" in the state of California and any information regarding any changes in status for these weapons. I am also looking for information such as how many of these firearms are currently registered in the state to individual persons, and any correspondence between the government of California and the ATF regarding state laws and the legality of these weapons in the state. If there are any department memos or information provided to employees regarding processing these tax stamps for Californians, please include that as well." with the time requested being 1/1/2020 to 3/9/26 was what I had asked. It should not include corporations or law enforcement agencies. This was the only thing they had provided, no additional documentation or memos regarding AOWs here.

I submitted another one for the totals in 2025 and 2026, but I forgot to ask for it to be just private individuals so it is a bit worthless for us. I'll submit another one for individuals when I am not at work.
View attachment 219799

Very interesting, it must be then that that 5k plus number must be total AOWs which includes corporations and law enforcement agencies. You requested total number of individual persons so they gave you the number tied to individual eForm approvals. Yeah, I'm definitely part of that 91 approvals in 2025.

 

[M_N04H]

Ridiculous. I'm just glad I didn't pay for this application just to have waited this long without a single update.