Not hand-to-hand. California handles firearm sales between private individuals through a licensed dealer: instead of transferring directly to each other, you both go to an FFL who runs the paperwork and background check, holds the firearm during the waiting period, and releases it once everything clears. That’s a Private Party Transfer. There are narrow statutory exceptions (for example, certain antiques and curio-and-relic long guns; Pen. Code §§ 27850–27966), but the dealer route is the rule for ordinary sales.
Sources
- The full detail: How a Private Party Transfer works
More answers
- What does it cost to transfer a gun through a dealer?
- How long do I have to wait before I can take it home?
- What happens if my check comes back “undetermined”?
Get the weekly Roster and Law brief
One email a week on California roster changes, new laws and court rulings. Alerts when something changes.