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State of California Department of Justice
Rob Bonta
Attorney General
Attorney General
Federal law defines a “gun show or event” as a “function sponsored by any national, state, or local organization, devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms, or an organization or association that sponsors functions devoted to the collection, competitive use, or other sporting use of firearms in the community.” California laws governing gun shows incorporate this federal definition.
Gun shows are held at various types of venues where vendors gather to, among other things, display, market, and/or sell firearms, ammunition, firearm accessories, and non-firearm products. Researchers have estimated that on average, over 2,000 gun shows are held nationwide each year.
In many other states, these events are relatively unregulated and may feature both licensed dealers, who are required to conduct background checks to sell firearms under federal law, as well as many unlicensed sellers offering firearms, ammunition, and related products without background checks, sale records, or other safety requirements. As a result, without appropriate precautions and oversight, these events may become a magnet for prohibited purchasers and firearms traffickers in particular.
Under California law, unlike in many other states, sales and transfers of firearms and sales of ammunition must generally be conducted by or processed through licensed firearms dealers or ammunition vendors, whether or not those sales or transfers are conducted at a gun show . These licensees are responsible for conducting background checks and ensuring compliance with other requirements, such as California's firearm waiting period and Firearm Safety Certificate requirements. California has also adopted some of the nation's most comprehensive laws specifically governing gun show events, producers, dealers, and vendors.
Deterring Illegal Firearm Transactions: DOJ's Bureau of Firearms (BOF) has teams of Special Agents throughout the state who regularly conduct enforcement efforts at in-state gun shows to identify and deter illegal firearms and ammunition transactions at these venues. Due to the proliferation of illegal firearms and ghost guns in California, partly due to assault weapons and ghost guns being purchased at out-of-state gun shows, Special Agents also monitor gun shows in Nevada and Arizona. Special Agents interdict gun traffickers and prohibited purchasers that purchase these weapons out-of-state and transport them into California. DOJ is the only state law enforcement agency in California that specifically targets criminal activity at gun shows and has the resources and expertise to do so. In 2023, DOJ's Special Agents carried out and closed 12 investigations relating to gun shows, and as part of those investigations seized 25 firearms, 1,071 rounds of ammunition, and nearly 5,500 magazines.
Ensuring Compliance with Laws: DOJ Field Representatives travel to DOJ-approved gun shows and conduct in-person inspections of the shows and their licensed producers, as well as the firearm dealers, ammunition vendors, and manufacturers who participate or conduct sales, to ensure they are in compliance with state firearm laws. Field Representatives also provide training to various firearm dealers regarding reporting, California firearm laws and regulations, and other firearm-related responsibilities.
Below are examples of recent gun show investigations conducted by DOJ:
In August of 2023, DOJ Special Agents were conducting an enforcement operation at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show, located at the Ontario Convention Center. During the operation, agents identified a subject who was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a felony conviction. Special Agents witnessed him purchase a short barreled upper receiver, a lower receiver internal parts kit, and a collapsible stock, all of which could be used in the manufacturing of an AR-15 style rifle.
Special Agents contacted the subject at his vehicle. The subject willingly spoke with Special Agents about his intent to have a rifle manufactured for his use with the parts he purchased at the gun show. Based on his statements, Special Agents requested and conducted a consent search of the subject’s residence and vehicles to ensure he was not in possession of firearms, ammunition, or ammunition magazines. They located two handguns, two rifles, including one assault weapon, one shotgun, 10 ammunition magazines, and approximately 3,000 rounds of various caliber ammunition.
In April of 2023, DOJ Special Agents were conducting an enforcement operation at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show, located at the Ontario Convention Center. During the operation, Special Agents identified a subject who was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a felony conviction and observed the subject purchasing ammunition magazines. Special Agents contacted the subject in the parking lot of the Convention Center and arrested him after it was determined he was in possession of ammunition.
Special Agents obtained a search warrant for the subject's residence in Bloomington, California. As a result of the search warrant, agents seized one short barrel rifle (ghost gun), one assault weapon (ghost gun), one rifle, one shotgun, three handguns (two of which were ghost guns), six lower receivers (ghost guns), five large-capacity magazines, six standard capacity magazines, miscellaneous gun manufacturing parts, and over 700 rounds of ammunition.
In April of 2023, DOJ Special Agents were conducting an enforcement operation at the Sacramento Gun Show, located at the McClellan Capitol Sports Center in McClellan Park, CA. During the operation, Special Agents identified several vendors that were selling illegal weapons and large-capacity magazines without having a large-capacity magazine permit. The first vendor identified was offering approximately 1,800 large-capacity magazines for sale. Another vendor was offering 62 large-capacity magazines for sale. A third vendor was offering 3,600 large-capacity magazines for sale. A fourth vendor was offering approximately 103 illegal weapons for sale, ranging from metal knuckles, cane swords, switchblades, butterfly knives, and batons. All of the illegal items were seized by Special Agents.
In February of 2024, DOJ Special Agents were assisting DOJ Field Representatives with a dealer inspection at the Big Chico Gun Show, located at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, in Chico, CA.
During the inspection process, an individual was found to be attempting to sell an assault weapon and an unserialized firearm precursor part. Both items were seized by Special Agents.
