California · Penal Code

PEN §34000: (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law or of any local ordinance to the contrary, when any firearm is in the possession of any officer of the state, or of a county, city, or city and county, or of a

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Describes procedures for destroying firearms held as evidence or unclaimed property by law enforcement agencies after 180 days, with specified exceptions.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law or of any local ordinance to the contrary, when any firearm is in the possession of any officer of the state, or of a county, city, or city and county, or of any campus of the University of California or the California State University, and the firearm is an exhibit filed in any criminal action or proceeding which is no longer needed or is unclaimed or abandoned property, which has been in the possession of the officer for at least 180 days, the firearm shall be destroyed as provided for in Sections 18000 and 18005. (b) This section does not apply to any firearm in the possession of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or which was used in the violation of any provision in the Fish and Game Code, or any regulation under that code. (c) This section does not apply to a firearm described in subdivision (b) of Section 18005 in the possession of a public administrator, public guardian, or public conservator in the performance of their duties as the personal representative of a decedent’s estate, or in the performance of the duties of a conservator or guardian over a person or their estate, in order to fulfill their obligations under state law.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.