New Gun Owners and FAQ
As a new gun owner, please review the typical questions and answers below regarding firearm transfer, ownership and more. Congratulations on your first firearm purchase (or future purchase) and welcome to the convoluted world of firearms law. Hopefully once becoming a responsible gun owner you will view these gun laws as arbitrary and irrelevant and realize that they do nothing more than restrict responsible gun owners from owning firearms. Please note that the text below does not constitute legal advice. This is our interpretation and laws frequently change and interpretations differ. Please consult with an attorney.
1. CAN I PURCHASE A GUN ONLINE? HOW DOES THAT WORK?
Yes, firearms can legally be purchased online. The purchaser buys the firearm thru an online dealer or distributor who sends the firearm to a dealer (Federal Firearms Licensee, FFL) for transfer. Once the firearm is received by the FFL, the purchaser arrives at the FFL for the transfer of the firearm. It's the transferring FFL's responsibility to fulfill the State/Federal requirements for the transfer. Firearms cannot be shipped directly to the purchaser. Curio & Relic (C&R) license holders are able to receive C&R firearms directly in some states (not CA). Please note, you can only purchase a firearm for yourself. If you wish to gift a firearm to a friend or family member, you purchase and transfer the firearm and then gift the gun. Otherwise this can be seen as a "straw purchase" with the intent to have someone purchase a gun on your behalf, which is illegal per Federal Law.
2. DOES AB PROTOTYPE SELL GUNS?
Yes, we sell firearms through our website and using various online marketplaces such as Gunbroker. We can order most firearms that we do not stock from one of our many distributors and receive it within a timely matter.
3. HOW DO I PURCHASE A GUN IN TN?
There are several requirements to purchasing a firearm in Tennessee. You must be a TN resident and legally reside in the US. To transfer a firearm you need to provide the following documents:
a. Valid TN driver's license or ID.
i. If license says "Federal Limits Apply" on the front, upper right, you also need to provide a valid US Passport, Passport Card, Birth Certificate or Permanent Resident Card.
ii. If residence address is not current on license or shows P.O. Box, you also need to provide a GOVERNMENT document with period of validity, such as vehicle registration or GOVERNMENT utility bill (typically water bill only). Documents from a private entity will not work.
b. Military personnel stationed in TN.
i. Military personnel stationed in TN will most likely not have a TN driver's license of ID card. You will need to provide your military (DOD) ID and permanent station orders. 4473 form will require base address and residence address, if different.
c. Visiting, out of state residents.
i. We can sell firearms to out of state residents visiting TN. You can purchase any firearm that is legal in your state of residence and we will ship the firearm to the firearms dealer in your state. The FFL in your state of residence will then transfer the firearm to you upon your return, fulfilling all state and Federal requirements for the firearm transfer. Unfortunately we do not transfer rifles or shotguns to out-of-state residents in-person. We do not have the capacity to fulfill other state's requirements, waiting periods, etc.
4. HOW DO I PURCHASE A GUN OUTSIDE OF TN?
Customers who reside outside of TN may purchase firearms from us, either in person or thru our website. All firearms transferred will have to be state-compliant or must be converted to be state-compliant (a service we offer). We don't require any documents for the purchase, but your local firearms dealer will complete the state and Federal requirements for the firearm transfer. Please note we will only sell the firearm to the original purchaser. We cannot sell a firearm to the original purchase to then be transferred to another individual. If you are giving a firearm as a gift, please transfer the firearm first, then gift the firearm following all state and Federal law. Unfortunately we do not transfer rifles or shotguns to out-of-state residents in-person. We do not have the capacity to fulfill other state's requirements, waiting periods, etc.
5. WHAT KIND OF HANDGUN CAN I BUY IN CA?
California is very specific regarding which handguns can be sold by CA dealers (FFL). CA has a handgun roster that consists of specifically named models or variants of handguns that have fulfilled the "overbearing" safety requirements. Current requirements to be on the list include, but not limited to microstamping (currently not possible with modern technology), magazine disconnect, loaded chamber indicator, specific drop-safe requirements and annual fees. Roster requirements may change in the near future due to pending litigation (APRIL 2023).
a. See the handgun roster here: https://www.oag.ca.gov/firearms/certified-handguns/search We cannot transfer handguns not found on this list.
b. Exceptions to this list include gifts from out of state family (generational only! child, parent, grandparent), Private Party Transfers, Law Enforcement, FFLs, C&R handguns. Private party transfers occur between to CALIFORNIA residents at the same FFL.
6. WHAT KIND OF RIFLE CAN I BUY IN CA?
You can purchase any CA-legal rifle. Rifles must have a barrel 16" or over and be greater than 30" length for centerfire calibers or 26" for rimfire calibers. Additionally, centerfire caliber, semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines (i.e. AR-15 variants, Mini-14, M1A and others) may not have CA "evil features" such as pistol grip, vertical forward grip, flash hider, thumbhole stock, etc. Fixed magazine rifles may have these features in most cases. CA also has an assault weapons list that includes rifles that are banned by name. There is no way to make these rifles compliant as they are listed and the name of the rifle cannot be changed (i.e. Colt AR-15, Bushmaster XM-15, Norinco AK-47. etc.). We can convert "assault weapons" to be CA compliant. These rifles must be compliant before entering the state of CA.
Lower receivers are also legal to transfer. A stripped or assembled receiver is not a semi-auto rifle so "assault weapons" regulations do not apply to the receiver itself, but must be followed upon assembly.
7. WHAT KIND OF SHOTGUN CAN I BUY IN CA?
You can purchase any CA-legal shotgun. Shotguns must have a barrel 18" or over and be greater than 26" length. Additionally, semi-auto shotguns may not have detachable magazines (i.e. Saiga 12, etc.) or a combination of pistol grip with collapsible stock. Pump shotgun features are virtually unrestricted as long as overall length and barrel length are maintained. CA also has a list of shotguns banned by name (i.e. Franchi SPAS-12, Striker 12, etc.).
8. CAN I PURCHASE A NON-CA LEGAL FIREARM AND HAVE YOU CONVERT IT TO BE CA LEGAL?
Yes, since we are located outside of CA we can convert CA "assault weapons" to be CA legal. The firearm must be state compliant before entering the state of CA. Please note some firearms can never become CA legal.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO STATEMENTS MADE ABOVE CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVISE. ALWAYS CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY CONCERNING LEGAL MATTERS.