Firearm Safety Certificate: June 2025 Study Guide

Firearm safety is the law in California. Every firearm owner should understand and follow firearm safety practices, have a basic familiarity with the operation and handling of their firearm, and be fully aware of the responsibility of firearm ownership. Pursuant to Penal Code section 31615, a person shall not purchase or receive any firearm (except an antique) without a valid Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC), unless they are statutorily exempt from the FSC requirement. Further, no person shall sell, deliver, loan, or transfer any firearm (except an antique) to any person who does not have a valid FSC. To obtain an FSC, a person must pass a Department of Justice (DOJ) written test on firearm safety. The test is administered by DOJ Certified Instructors, who are often located at firearms dealers.This study guide provides the basic firearm safety information necessary to pass the test. Following the firearm safety information in this guide will help reduce the potential for accidental deaths and injuries, particularly those involving children, caused by the unsafe handling and storing of firearms.In addition to safety information, this study guide provides a general summary of the state laws that govern the sale and use of firearms. Finally, there is a glossary that defines the more technical terms used in the study guide.Simply reading this study guide will not make you a safe firearm owner. To be a safe firearm owner you must practice the firearm safety procedures described in the following pages.Table of ContentsIntroductionWHY FIREARM SAFETY?FIREARM SAFETY IS THE LAWFIREARM SAFETY CERTIFICATE INFORMATIONCAUSES OF FIREARM ACCIDENTSPREVENTING MISUSE TRAGEDIESREASONS FOR AND RISKS OF OWNING A FIREARMBECOMING A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE FIREARM OWNERChapter 1: Firearm Safety RulesTHE SIX BASIC FIREARM SAFETY RULESADDITIONAL SAFETY POINTSChapter 2: Firearms and ChildrenFIREARM OWNER RESPONSIBILITYRULES FOR KIDSChapter 3: Firearm Operation and Safe HandlingSAFE HANDLING DEMONSTRATIONREVOLVER PARTS AND OPERATIONDOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER SAFE HANDLINGSINGLE-ACTION REVOLVER SAFE HANDLINGSEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL PARTS AND OPERATIONSEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL SAFE HANDLINGLONG GUN SAFE HANDLINGAMMUNITIONPHYSICS OF GUNFIREFIREARM AND AMMUNITION CALIBERSDANGEROUS RANGEMALFUNCTIONSChapter 4: Firearm OwnershipUNDERSTAND THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF YOUR FIREARMCAREFULLY READ ALL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALENROLL IN A FIREARM TRAINING COURSECLEANING AND REPAIRSAFETY AND STORAGE DEVICESMETHODS OF CHILDPROOFINGChapter 5: Prohibited Firearms Transfers and Straw PurchasesChapter 6: Firearms LawsINTRODUCTION TO THE LAWSSALES AND TRANSFERS OF FIREARMSNEW CALIFORNIA RESIDENT REQUIREMENTPRIVATELY MANUFACTURED FIREARMSCARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPONFIREARMS ABOARD COMMON CARRIERSFIREARMS IN THE HOME, BUSINESS OR AT THE CAMPSITETHE USE OF LETHAL FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSELOADED FIREARMS IN PUBLICLARGE-CAPACITY MAGAZINESFIREARM STORAGE DURING PROHIBITIONMISCELLANEOUS PROHIBITED ACTSPERSONS INELIGIBLE TO POSSESS FIREARMS Read more