California statute
Cal. Penal Code § 26853
Current through 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)
Part of Title 4: Firearms, California Penal Code.
Full text of Cal. Penal Code § 26853
Statutory text current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of California.
To comply with Section 26850, a safe handling demonstration for a semiautomatic pistol shall include all of the following steps: (a) Remove the magazine. (b) Lock the slide back. If the model of firearm does not allow the slide to be locked back, pull the slide back, visually and physically check the chamber to ensure that it is clear. (c) Visually and physically inspect the chamber, to ensure that the handgun is unloaded. (d) Remove the firearm safety device, if applicable. If the firearm safety device prevents any of the previous steps, remove the firearm safety device during the appropriate step. (e) Load one bright orange, red, or other readily identifiable dummy round into the magazine. If no readily identifiable dummy round is available, an empty cartridge casing with an empty primer pocket may be used. (f) Insert the magazine into the magazine well of the firearm. (g) Manipulate the slide release or pull back and release the slide. (h) Remove the magazine. (i) Visually inspect the chamber to reveal that a round can be chambered with the magazine removed. (j) Lock the slide back to eject the bright orange, red, or other readily identifiable dummy round. If the handgun is of a model that does not allow the slide to be locked back, pull the slide back and physically check the chamber to ensure that the chamber is clear. If no readily identifiable dummy round is available, an empty cartridge casing with an empty primer pocket may be used. (k) Apply the safety, if applicable. (l) Apply the firearm safety device, if applicable. This requirement shall not apply to an Olympic competition pistol if no firearm safety device, other than a cable lock that the department has determined would damage the barrel of the pistol, has been approved for the pistol, and the pistol is either listed in subdivision (b) of Section 32105 or is subject to subdivision (c) of Section 32105.
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