Expert: Dean Speir - 4/5/2009

Question
I live in California and recently have purchased handgun and am currently waiting out the 10 day period before I can pick it up. During the 10 days I assume is when they are running the NCIS check. My question is I have a minor warrant for an unpaid ticket from a few years back. Is this annoyance going to prevent me from obtaining the firearm I have already purchased? Its kinda freaking me out now. If i dont pass what happens next?

Answer
How is this a Second Amendment question, Nikita? (Hint: it's not!)

That said, what do you mean by "a minor warrant?" Does that in your mind mean that if the authorities catch up with you they are going to wag their fingers at you and say "Bad Nikita! Bad! Bad! Bad! You need to take care of this (traffic?) ticket right away?"

If you have a warrant against you, that means you are subject to, if not actual arrest, then detainment. It's going to be a "police contact," and will likely, in this day and age of computerized records, show up against your name… and that's not a good thing for a gun owner. (Remember how we like to say that we are "law abiding?")

You don't sound like you are very "law abiding."

And since you know that you have a warrant against you, it didn't simply slip your mind, you know about it and have made a conscious decision to not address your problem.(For all I know in California, after a certain time, you might even be deemed a "scofflaw.")

And under California law, you driving record could prevent you from purchasing a firearm. As your driver's license must be valid, a suspension, an outstanding ticket, or fine may cause your license to be invalid.

That comes straight from the California Attorney General's website at http://www.ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php

So, don't be stupid… take care of that unpaid ticket immediately!