CHAPTER 2. Ballistics Identification System [34350. - 34370.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 2.

in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 34350. Section 34350.

(a) The Attorney General shall conduct a study to evaluate ballistics identification systems to determine the feasibility and potential benefits to law enforcement of utilizing a statewide ballistics identification system capable of maintaining a database of ballistic images and information from test fired and sold firearms. The study shall include an evaluation of ballistics identification systems currently used by state and federal law enforcement agencies and the firearms industry. The Attorney General shall consult with law enforcement agencies, firearms industry representatives, private technology providers, and other appropriate parties in conducting the study. (b) In evaluating ballistics identification systems to determine the feasibility of utilizing a statewide system as required pursuant to subdivision (a), the Attorney General shall consider, at a minimum, the following: (1) The development of methods by which firearm manufacturers, importers, and dealers may potentially capture ballistic images from firearms prior to sale in California and forward that information to the Attorney General. (2) The development of methods by which the Attorney General will receive, store, and make available to law enforcement ballistic images submitted by firearm manufacturers, importers, and dealers prior to sale in California. (3) The potential financial costs to the Attorney General of implementing and operating a statewide ballistics identification system, including the process for receipt of information from firearm manufacturers, importers, and dealers. (4) The capability of a ballistics identification system maintaining a database of ballistic images and information from test fired firearms for all firearms sold in California. (5) The compatibility of a ballistics identification system with ballistics identification systems that are currently used by law enforcement agencies in California. (6) A method to ensure that state and local law enforcement agencies can forward ballistic identification information to the Attorney General for inclusion in a statewide ballistics identification system. (7) The feasibility and potential benefits to law enforcement of requiring firearm manufacturers, importers, and dealers to provide the Attorney General with ballistic images from any, or a selected number of, test fired firearms prior to the sale of those firearms in California. (c) The Attorney General shall submit a report to the Legislature with the results of the study not later than June 1, 2001. In the event the report includes a determination that a ballistics identification system and database is feasible and would benefit law enforcement, the report shall also recommend a strategy for implementation.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 34355. Section 34355.

(a) Section 34350 does not apply to any sale, delivery, or transfer of firearms made to an authorized law enforcement representative of any city, county, city and county, or state, or of the federal government, for exclusive use by that governmental agency if, prior to the sale, delivery, or transfer of these firearms, written authorization from the head of the agency authorizing the transaction is presented to the person from whom the purchase, delivery, or transfer is being made. (b) Proper written authorization is defined as verifiable written certification from the head of the agency by which the purchaser or transferee is employed, identifying the employee as an individual authorized to conduct the transaction, and authorizing the transaction for the exclusive use of the agency by which that person is employed. (c) Within 10 days of the date a handgun, and commencing January 1, 2014, any firearm, is acquired by the agency, a record of the same shall be entered as an institutional weapon into the Automated Firearms System (AFS) via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) by the law enforcement or state agency. Any agency without access to AFS shall arrange with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located to input this information via this system.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 34360. Section 34360.

Section 34350 does not apply to the loan of a firearm if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (a) The loan is made by an authorized law enforcement representative of a city, county, or city and county, or of the state or federal government. (b) The loan is made to a peace officer employed by that agency and authorized to carry a firearm. (c) The loan is made for the carrying and use of that firearm by that peace officer in the course and scope of the officer’s duties.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 34365. Section 34365.

(a) Section 34350 does not apply to the sale, delivery, or transfer of a firearm by a law enforcement agency to a peace officer pursuant to Section 10334 of the Public Contract Code. (b) Within 10 days of the date that a handgun, and commencing January 1, 2014, any firearm, is sold, delivered, or transferred pursuant to Section 10334 of the Public Contract Code to that peace officer, the name of the officer and the make, model, serial number, and other identifying characteristics of the firearm being sold, delivered, or transferred shall be entered into the Automated Firearms System (AFS) via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) by the law enforcement or state agency that sold, delivered, or transferred the firearm, provided, however, that if the firearm is not a handgun and does not have a serial number, identification number, or identification mark assigned to it, that fact shall be noted in AFS. Any agency without access to AFS shall arrange with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located to input this information via this system.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 34370. Section 34370.

(a) Section 34350 does not apply to the sale, delivery, or transfer of a firearm by a law enforcement agency to a retiring peace officer who is authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 26300) of Division 5. (b) Within 10 days of the date that a handgun, and commencing January 1, 2014, any firearm, is sold, delivered, or transferred to that retiring peace officer, the name of the officer and the make, model, serial number, and other identifying characteristics of the firearm being sold, delivered, or transferred shall be entered into the Automated Firearms System (AFS) via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) by the law enforcement or state agency that sold, delivered, or transferred the firearm, provided, however, that if the firearm is not a handgun and does not have a serial number, identification number, or identification mark assigned to it, that fact shall be noted in AFS. Any agency without access to AFS shall arrange with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located to input this information via this system.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026