California legal term
zip gun in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “zip gun” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “zip gun” mean in California criminal law?
“zip gun” means any weapon or device that meets all of the following criteria: (a) It was not imported as a firearm by an importer licensed pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto. (Cal. Penal Code § 17360)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.