Well I am officially an AZ resident now. This one stings sorry guys.
California law, primarily through recent Senate Bill 704 (SB 704) and AB 1263, now requires most firearm barrel sales/transfers to go through a licensed dealer (FFL) in-person, including partially finished ones, starting July 1, 2026, with background checks and record-keeping, to combat ghost guns, making private sales and direct-to-consumer shipping difficult and creating misdemeanor penalties for violations, while also defining barrels broadly to cover unfinished parts
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Key Changes Effective July 1, 2026 (SB 704 & AB 1263)
California law, primarily through recent Senate Bill 704 (SB 704) and AB 1263, now requires most firearm barrel sales/transfers to go through a licensed dealer (FFL) in-person, including partially finished ones, starting July 1, 2026, with background checks and record-keeping, to combat ghost guns, making private sales and direct-to-consumer shipping difficult and creating misdemeanor penalties for violations, while also defining barrels broadly to cover unfinished parts
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Key Changes Effective July 1, 2026 (SB 704 & AB 1263)
- FFL Requirement: All standalone firearm barrels, including those that are partially manufactured, must be sold/transferred via a California-licensed dealer (FFL).
- In-Person Sales: Transactions must occur in person at the dealer's location.
- Background Checks: Dealers must perform eligibility checks, similar to firearm purchases, for barrel buyers.
- Record Keeping: Dealers must record transaction details (date, buyer's ID, barrel info).
- Broad Definition: "Firearm barrel" includes forgings, castings, and prints that are almost ready to be a barrel or are marketed as such.
- Prohibitions: Selling, transferring, or possessing barrels to sell without going through an FFL becomes illegal.
- First Offense: Misdemeanor.
- Subsequent Offenses: Can escalate to wobbler (misdemeanor or felony) or felony charges with jail time.
- Law enforcement, military, federally licensed collectors (C&R), and estate transfers may have exceptions.
- Barrels attached to a complete firearm are exempt from these specific rules.
- To prevent the creation of untraceable, unserialized "ghost guns" made from 3D-printed or unfinished parts, as barrels are essential components.
