Many categories of firearms and other weapons are banned outright under California state law, and also under federal law. Examples of types of firearms and other weapons banned under California law include:

Firearms

• short-barreled shotgun
• short-barreled rifle
• undetectable firearm
• firearm that is not immediately recognizable as a firearm
• unconventional pistol
• cane gun, wallet gun, or zip gun
• machineguns
• machine pistols
• assault weapons
• .50 BMG rifles
• flamethrowers

Firearm Equipment and Ammunition

• camouflaging firearm container
• ammunition that contains or consists of any fléchette dart
• bullet containing or carrying an explosive agent
• multiburst trigger activator
• large-capacity magazine
• silencers

Knives and Swords

• ballistic knife
• belt buckle knife
• lipstick case knife
• cane sword
• shobi-zue
• air gauge knife
• writing pen knife

Martial Arts Weapons

• nunchaku
• shuriken

Other Weapons

• metal knuckles
• leaded cane
• metal military practice handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade
• other instruments or weapons of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sandclub, sap, or sandbag

A comprehensive listing of banned firearms and other weapons is available on the California Department of Justice website at http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2006.pdf. The charges against you may increase in severity -- with substantially increased fines and prison time -- if you are caught with a banned firearm near school grounds, if you are on probation or parole, if you are in a gang, if you are subject to an injunction, protective order or restraining order, if you have prior convictions, or if other aggravating circumstances are present.

If you or someone you know has been arrested or is being prosecuted for possession of a banned firearm, call Anchor Criminal Defense for a free consultation.