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Cal. Penal Code § 27505 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a)No person, corporation, or firm shall sell, loan, or transfer a firearm to a minor, nor sell a handgun to an individual under 21 years of age.

(b)Subdivision (a) shall not apply to or affect the following circumstances:

(1)The sale of a handgun, if the handgun is an antique firearm and the sale is to a person at least 18 years of age.

(2)The loan of a firearm to a minor by the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if both of the following requirements are satisfied:

(A)The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purposes of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(B)The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(3)The loan of a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or handgun to a minor by a person who is not the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if all of the following requirements are satisfied:

(A)The minor is accompanied by the minor’s parent or legal guardian when the loan is made, or the minor has the written consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian, which is presented at the time of the loan, or earlier.

(B)The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purpose of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(C)The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(D)The duration of the loan does not, in any event, exceed 10 days.

(4)The loan of a firearm other than a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or a handgun to a minor who is 16 years of age or older, by a person who is not the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if all of the following conditions apply:

(A)The loan is with the express permission of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

(B)The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purpose of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(C)The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(D)The duration of the loan does not, in any event, exceed 5 days, unless express permission is provided in the manner described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3), in which case the duration of the loan shall not, in any event, exceed 10 days.

(5)The loan of a firearm other than a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or a handgun to a minor under 16 years of age by a person who is not the minor’s parent or legal guardian, if all of the following conditions apply:

(A)The loan is with the express permission of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

(B)The minor is being loaned the firearm for the purpose of engaging in a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(C)The duration of the loan does not exceed the amount of time that is reasonably necessary to engage in the lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

(D)The minor accompanied at all times by a responsible adult.

(E)The duration of the loan does not, in any event, exceed 5 days, unless express permission is provided in the manner described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3), in which case the duration of the loan shall not, in any event, exceed 10 days.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2012–2024 · leading case: Matthew Jones v. Rob Bonta, 34 F.4th 704 (9th Cir. 2022).
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Matthew Jones v. Rob Bonta, 34 F.4th 704 (9th Cir. 2022). · cites it 3× “Cal. Penal Code § 27505 (a). 4 A rifle is a kind of long gun.”
Nat'l Rifle Ass'n of Am., Inc. v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, 700 F.3d 185 (5th Cir. 2012). “, California (Cal.Penal Code § 27505); Connecticut (Conn.”
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners v. Polis, 121 F.4th 96 (10th Cir. 2024). “These jurisdictions currently set the minimum age to purchase a handgun or long gun to 21: California ( Cal. Penal Code § 27505 (a); 27510(a)); Delaware ( Del.”
Tempest Horsley v. Jessica Trame, 808 F.3d 1126 (7th Cir. 2015). “See Cal. Penal Code § 27505 (a); Conn. Gen. Stat.”
Tanner Hirschfeld v. ATF (4th Cir. 2021). “*** To summarize: Congress had a compelling interest in promoting public safety and the challenged provisions are a reasonable fit for that objective.”
Tanner Hirschfeld v. ATF (4th Cir. 2021). “*** To summarize: Congress had a compelling interest in promoting public safety and the challenged provisions are a reasonable fit for that objective.”
Junior Sports Magazines Inc. v. Rob Bonta (C.D. Cal. 2022). “” See Cal. Penal Code §§ 27505 , 27510, 29615; Opp.”
Nat'l Rifle Ass'n v. Bureau of Alc (5th Cir. 2013). “Many States (and the District of Columbia) proscribe or restrict the sale of handguns to persons under 21 (by non-FFLs) or the possession of handguns by persons under 21.”
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