When you want to buy ammo in California, you’ll have to go through a background check. Recent laws were passed in 2019, so now you need to go through the background check process to bring home ammo for your weapon. Of course, there are exceptions, and there are some caveats you need to be aware of.
What’s more, it helps to know how to prepare for a California ammo background check before you go through one. This can prevent a lot of issues from happening at the counter. The good news is that we have your back in this guide. We cover everything you need to know about ammo background checks in California.
Read on to learn more below.
Do You Need to Pass a Background Check to Buy Ammo in California?
Yes, you need to pass a background check to buy ammo in California. Due to recent laws that were passed in 2019, you need to pass a background check to buy ammo. The background check is not as complicated as one for work, but the system will scan your ID and verify some details. Still, it doesn’t take as long as your average background check, and you don’t have to worry about references being called or anything like that.
Instead, it’s all done right at the counter. This way, you don’t have to wait too long to buy the ammo you need for your firearm.
How Long Does a CA Ammo Background Check Take?
A California ammo background check is a lot faster than one for employment. For this reason, you can expect the background check to take around five minutes. Most of it is done at the counter when you provide your ID to the clerk, and then they run the ID through several databases to determine if you have any red flags.
The process only takes longer if you happen to have any of these red flags.
What Are Red Flags on a California Ammo Background Check?
Red flags on a California ammo background check are easy to understand once you know what they are. The most common disqualifiers include:
- Having a history of mental illness.
- Having a criminal record.
- Being on a registered sex offender list.
- Having a history of violent crimes, even if they’re misdemeanors.
- Having a warrant out for your arrest.
- Having an order of protection, or restraining order, against you.
This is not an exhaustive list, but if you’re dealing with any of these issues, you may not be able to pass a California ammo background check. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to buy ammo until you do.
How Much Does a California Ammo Background Check Cost?
While the process may seem like another hassle you need to go through before you buy ammo, it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Expect to spend around five dollars on the background check process. Some additional fees may apply, and some licensed dealers may charge additional fees depending on the situation.
Still, you shouldn’t have to spend more than $10 on one of these checks unless something is wrong and you need to take action to fix it.
How to Prepare for a CA Ammo Background Check
One of the best ways to avoid delays, more fees, and leaving a store empty-handed is to prepare for the background check process. The good news is that you don’t have to scramble to view all your records online or through county offices. Instead, you can leverage a reliable tool like Information.com.
This all-in-one platform allows you to run a background check on yourself, which helps you figure out if there are roadblocks you need to take down before you go through the process. To use this tool, all you need to do is enter your information into the background check tool. Then, begin the search process.
From there, you can open the comprehensive full report to discover all available public records associated with you. If there is anything you’re seeing that’s wrong or a potential problem, you can now act on it and prevent it from causing issues with you buying ammo in the future.
Understanding the California Ammo Background Check
At the end of the day, if you want to purchase ammo in California, you need to go through a California ammo background check. In order to pass this check, it helps to have a clean record and a clean history of mental health. Otherwise, you may run into some issues.
While the process is fast and cheap, we always recommend using a tool like Information.com to prepare for the process before you try to buy ammo. This will prevent any difficulties.
