Frequently Asked Questions

Safe Guns in Safe Places for Safe Families

No. California law is not specific on this exact question. However, it does state under Penal Code §25100:

Criminal Storage of a Firearm in the First Degree.

(Summary) You cannot dispose of a firearm if you know, or reasonably should know, that a child or prohibited person could gain access to it.

Penalty can be up to 16 months in prison and/or up to a $10,000 fine.

In Orange County, all trash goes to a transfer station where it’s divided up for recycling. This means a discarded firearm would likely be discovered and handled by workers during sorting.

SOLUTION: With our California gun disposal and transfer service, CGS can legally take possession of the unwanted firearm and disassemble it, destroy it, or help you sell it.

How do I dispose of old bullets?

It's important to remember you can NOT throw away bullets in the trash. Throwing away ammunition is not only illegal in California, but also potentially dangerous.

For example, if a bullet gets crushed in a trash compactor, it can go off and become a risk to anyone nearby. The environmental impact is of concern as well, as sending bullets to a landfill can contaminate water and soil with lead.

SOLUTION: You may be able to take small quantities of ammunition to your local police station for disposal, or California Gun Services will come and pick up any amount from your home at no charge, and will recycle it. Jeff with California Gun Services is certified with the EPA for safe handling of lead and the removal of lead.

Do you buy gun collections?

Yes. We purchase everything from single firearms to large estate collections. Many clients come to us when they are dealing with inherited or estate guns and want a simple, reliable way to sell the entire collection.

Selling a gun collection to CGS allows you to avoid sorting, transporting, or managing multiple sales. Instead of waiting months for individual items to sell, everything is handled in one step, and you receive a single upfront payment.

SOLUTION. CGS can make an offer to purchase your entire collection, pick it up from your home at no cost, and pay you immediately at the time of pickup.

How do I legally get rid of unwanted guns in California?

In California, you have a few legal ways to deal with unwanted firearms, but you can NOT just throw them away or sell them privately.

Depending on your situation and what’s in your collection, you may be able to:

Sell guns through a licensed dealer
Transfer them to another legal owner
Turn them in to law enforcement (especially if they may be illegal)

If you’re not sure what applies, call CGS at (714) 639-9608 to speak directly with the owner, Jeff, or use our contact form to get started. We can walk you through your options, review photos of your firearms, or set up a time to meet with you on-site to go over everything in person.

Have more questions? We're happy to help. Call us at (714) 639-9608 today.