Question Lower recivers and Safes

[LostOnTheWayToTexas]

Ok all, we are still trying to wrap our heads around the required changes to our AR’s to move to Cali. We have narrowed down the choices on the mechanical changes to the weapon systems; but are having issues with the “words of the law” vs. the common practice of two items.

• AR’s that are banned by name- E.g. the Colt AR-15 and all its variations (banned by name), yet everyone seems to have ARs. So, the question is we have Anderson and Aero lowers… Are we good?
• Safe storage upcoming 2026. We have read and seen vids that allude to the need for 12ga-steel/spin-or-pad behemoth that cost 2k’ish IAW CA-DOJ definition of a “Gun Safe”. However, we haven’t seen a clear concise answer.

Comments or direction the desired wisdom is welcome.


V/r

 

[joefrank64k]

For AR’s banned by name: It’s literally the name that makes them banned:

Banned: ‘Colt AR-15’
Not Banned: ‘Colt M-4’

This is why you see AR-15-style rifles all over the place in CA. The lowers are ‘off-list lowers’ (OLL), meaning they aren’t listed in the Penal Code by name.

Aero Precision, Anderson, DD, S&W, whatever are all OK - as long as they are either maglocked or featureless (this applies to CENTERFIRE semiautomatic rifles, rimfire don’t have the feature restrictions).



I’m not well versed on the safe storage law.

 

[westsidearms]

This is the Kasler List. Your firearm must be specifically named and there is even some debate on whether "all" is even enforceable.

https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/kaslist.pdf

Personally, I am not worried about a safe storage law. Even if the authorities figured out you were out of compliance, you should willingly practice civil disobedience and file a lawsuit immediately. I am not saying you should be reckless with your firearms storage, but if your guns are locked up in your house and there are no children present, why should you comply? Thieves need to stay out of your house. At some point you need to stop worrying about the nanny state and do what you are going to do.

 

[Dvrjon]

Ok all, we are still trying to wrap our heads around the required changes to our AR’s to move to Cali. We have narrowed down the choices on the mechanical changes to the weapon systems; but are having issues with the “words of the law” vs. the common practice of two items.

• AR’s that are banned by name- E.g. the Colt AR-15 and all its variations (banned by name), yet everyone seems to have ARs. So, the question is we have Anderson and Aero lowers… Are we good?

CA PEN 30510 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/...um=30515.&nodeTreePath=9.4.11.3.1&lawCode=PEN) lists the “named” assault weapons.

In addition to that, if a weapon isn’t named, CA PEN 30515 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/...um=30515.&nodeTreePath=9.4.11.3.1&lawCode=PEN) lists the “evil features” which make a perfectly legal weapon a perfectly illegal assault weapon.

Under CA regulations, lower receivers (AR-15 pattern firearms) are not by themselves, assault weapons. The definition of assault weapon (CA PEN 30315, above) includes “semi-automatic, center fire rifle”. When the lower is separated from the upper, the weapon is no longer deemed “semi-automatic”. (See 11 CCR 5471(hh)(3): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/11-CCR-5471).

(hh) "Semiautomatic" means a firearm functionally able to fire a single cartridge, eject the empty case, and reload the chamber each time the trigger is pulled and released. Further, certain necessary mechanical parts that will allow a firearm to function in a semiautomatic nature must be present for a weapon to be deemed semiautomatic. A weapon clearly designed to be semiautomatic but lacking a firing pin, bolt carrier, gas tube, or some other crucial part of the firearm is not semiautomatic for purposes of Penal Code sections 30515, 30600, 30605(a), and 30900.
[…]
(3) With regards to an AR-15 style firearm, if a complete upper receiver and a complete lower receiver are completely detached from one another, but still in the possession or under the custody or control of the same person, the firearm is not a semiautomatic firearm.

/////////

• Safe storage upcoming 2026. We have read and seen vids that allude to the need for 12ga-steel/spin-or-pad behemoth that cost 2k’ish IAW CA-DOJ definition of a “Gun Safe”. However, we haven’t seen a clear concise answer.

Comments or direction the desired wisdom is welcome.

You don’t need a +$2k safe or Residential Security Container. You need an approved method of storage.

CA PEN 25145 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=25145.)

(b) A firearm is “securely stored” if it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe.
(c) For purposes of this section and Sections 25105, 25135, 25205, 27882, and 27883, the following terms have the following meanings:
[…](2) “Certified firearm safety device” means any firearm safety device or gun safe that is listed on the Department of Justice’s roster of tested and approved firearm safety devices certified for sale pursuant to Section 23655.
(4) “Secure gun safe” means a gun safe that meets the standards for gun safes adopted pursuant to Section 23650.

[Search for devices/containers/safes at https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist]

 

[Warpspeed]

Ok all, we are still trying to wrap our heads around the required changes to our AR’s to move to Cali. We have narrowed down the choices on the mechanical changes to the weapon systems; but are having issues with the “words of the law” vs. the common practice of two items.

• AR’s that are banned by name- E.g. the Colt AR-15 and all its variations (banned by name), yet everyone seems to have ARs. So, the question is we have Anderson and Aero lowers… Are we good?
• Safe storage upcoming 2026. We have read and seen vids that allude to the need for 12ga-steel/spin-or-pad behemoth that cost 2k’ish IAW CA-DOJ definition of a “Gun Safe”. However, we haven’t seen a clear concise answer.

Comments or direction the desired wisdom is welcome.


V/r

Your Anderson & Aero lowers are legal here in California, Referred to as Off List Lowers ( OLLs ) because they are not on the Kasler List as referred to above.

As for SB53, ( From SoS summary )

Existing law generally regulates the possession of firearms, including imposing storage requirements to prevent children from gaining access to firearms.

This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor or a felony if a person keeps a firearm within any premises that are under the persons custody or control and the person knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the childs parent or legal guardian, and the child obtains access to the firearm and causes injury, other than great bodily injury, or death or great bodily injury to the child or any other person, or carries that firearm off-premises, as defined, to a public place or a school.

Existing law exempts a person from the above provisions if the person has no reasonable expectation, based on objective facts and circumstances, that a child is likely to be present on the premises.

This bill would remove these exemptions.


As for the "approved" part, start here : https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist/ As long as it's on the list, you are GTG. Lots of lower cost devices are on the list.