Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30500. Section 30500.
This chapter shall be known as the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 and the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004.
ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [30500. - 30530.]
Cal. Penal Code - PEN 1.
in effectCal. Penal Code - PEN § 30505. Section 30505.
(a)
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation and use of assault weapons poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all citizens of this state. The Legislature has restricted the assault weapons specified in Section 30510 based upon finding that each firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to place restrictions on the use of assault weapons and to establish a registration and permit procedure for their lawful sale and possession. It is not, however, the intent of the Legislature by
this chapter to place restrictions on the use of those weapons which are primarily designed and intended for hunting, target practice, or other legitimate sports or recreational activities.
(b)
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation and use of .50 BMG rifles poses a clear and present terrorist threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, based upon findings that those firearms have such a high capacity for long distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk to the death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to place restrictions on the use of these
rifles and to establish a registration and permit procedure for their lawful sale and possession.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30510. Section 30510.
As used in this chapter and in Sections 16780, 17000, 27555, 27560, 27565, 27875, 27920, 27966, and 28000, “assault weapon” means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:
(a)
All of the following specified rifles:
(1)
All AK series including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:
(A)
Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.
(B)
Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.
(C)
Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.
(D)
MAADI AK47 and ARM.
(2)
UZI and Galil.
(3)
Beretta AR-70.
(4)
CETME Sporter.
(5)
Colt AR-15 series.
(6)
Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.
(7)
Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.
(8)
MAS 223.
(9)
HK-91, HK-93,
HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.
(10)
The following MAC types:
(A)
RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
(B)
SWD Incorporated M11.
(11)
SKS with detachable magazine.
(12)
SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.
(13)
Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.
(14)
Sterling MK-6.
(15)
Steyr AUG.
(16)
Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.
(17)
Armalite AR-180.
(18)
Bushmaster Assault Rifle.
(19)
Calico M-900.
(20)
J&R ENG M-68.
(21)
Weaver Arms Nighthawk.
(b)
All of the following specified pistols:
(1)
UZI.
(2)
Encom MP-9 and MP-45.
(3)
The following MAC types:
(A)
RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
(B)
SWD Incorporated M-11.
(C)
Advance Armament Inc. M-11.
(D)
Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.
(4)
Intratec TEC-9.
(5)
Sites Spectre.
(6)
Sterling MK-7.
(7)
Calico M-950.
(8)
Bushmaster Pistol.
(c)
All of the following specified shotguns:
(1)
Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.
(2)
Striker 12.
(3)
The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.
(d)
Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.
(e)
This section is declaratory of existing law and a clarification of the law and the
Legislature’s intent which bans the weapons enumerated in this section, the weapons included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this section because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.
(f)
As used in this section, “series” includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subdivision (a), regardless of the manufacturer.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30515. Section 30515.
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 30510, “assault weapon” also means any of the following:
(1)
A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
(A)
A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B)
A thumbhole stock.
(C)
A folding or telescoping stock.
(D)
A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E)
A
flash suppressor.
(F)
A forward pistol grip.
(2)
A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(3)
A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
(4)
A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
(A)
A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B)
A second handgrip.
(C)
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 barrel.
(D)
The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
(5)
A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(6)
A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
(A)
A folding or telescoping stock.
(B)
A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.
(7)
A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.
(8)
Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
(9)
A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:
(A)
A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B)
A thumbhole stock.
(C)
A folding or telescoping stock.
(D)
A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E)
A flash suppressor.
(F)
A forward pistol grip.
(G)
A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(H)
A second handgrip.
(I)
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 barrel.
(J)
The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
(10)
A
semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(11)
A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
(b)
For purposes of this section, “fixed magazine” means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.
(c)
The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of “assault weapon” pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that
are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of “assault weapon” pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subdivision (d).
(d)
“Assault weapon” does not include either of the following:
(1)
Any antique firearm.
(2)
Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subdivision (c):
MANUFACTURER
MODEL
CALIBER
BENELLI
MP90
.22LR
BENELLI
MP90
.32 S&W LONG
BENELLI
MP95
.22LR
BENELLI
MP95
.32 S&W LONG
HAMMERLI
280
.22LR
HAMMERLI
280
.32 S&W LONG
HAMMERLI
SP20
.22LR
HAMMERLI
SP20
.32 S&W LONG
PARDINI
GPO
.22 SHORT
PARDINI
GP-SCHUMANN
.22 SHORT
PARDINI
HP
.32 S&W LONG
PARDINI
MP
.32 S&W LONG
PARDINI
SP
.22LR
PARDINI
SPE
.22LR
WALTHER
GSP
.22LR
WALTHER
GSP
.32 S&W LONG
WALTHER
OSP
.22 SHORT
WALTHER
OSP-2000
.22 SHORT
(3)
The Department of Justice shall create a program that is consistent with the purposes stated in subdivision (c) to exempt new models of competitive pistols that would otherwise fall within the definition of “assault weapon” pursuant to this section from being classified as an assault weapon. The exempt competitive pistols may be based on recommendations by USA Shooting consistent with the regulations contained in the USA Shooting Official Rules or may be based on the recommendation or rules of any other organization that the department deems relevant.
(e)
The provisions of this section are
severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30520. Section 30520.
(a)
The Attorney General shall prepare a description for identification purposes, including a picture or diagram, of each assault weapon listed in Section 30510, and any firearm declared to be an assault weapon pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and shall distribute the description to all law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcement of this chapter. Those law enforcement agencies shall make the description available to all agency personnel.
(b)
(1)
Until January 1, 2007, the Attorney General shall
promulgate a list that specifies all firearms designated as assault weapons in former Section 12276, as it read in Section 2 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, Section 134 of Chapter 427 of the Statutes of 1992, or Section 19 of Chapter 606 of the Statutes of 1993, or declared to be assault weapons pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991. The Attorney General shall file that list with the Secretary of State for publication in the California Code of Regulations. Any declaration that a specified firearm is an assault weapon shall be implemented by the Attorney General who, within 90 days, shall promulgate an amended list which shall include the specified firearm declared to be an assault weapon. The Attorney General shall file the amended list with the Secretary of State for publication in the California Code of Regulations. Any firearm declared
to be an assault weapon prior to January 1, 2007, shall remain on the list filed with the Secretary of State.
(2)
Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, pertaining to the adoption of rules and regulations, shall not apply to any list of assault weapons promulgated pursuant to this section.
(c)
The Attorney General shall adopt those rules and regulations that may be necessary or proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30525. Section 30525.
As used in this part, “.50 BMG cartridge” means a cartridge that is designed and intended to be fired from a center fire rifle and that meets all of the following criteria:
(a)
It has an overall length of 5.54 inches from the base to the tip of the bullet.
(b)
The bullet diameter for the cartridge is from .510 to, and including, .511 inch.
(c)
The case base diameter for the cartridge is from .800 inch to, and including, .804 inch.
(d)
The cartridge case length is 3.91 inches.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 30530. Section 30530.
(a)
As used in this part, “.50 BMG rifle” means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun.
(b)
A “.50 BMG rifle” does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026