DOJ DROS and Automated Firearms System Updates

The California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms maintains two interconnected systems that are central to the state's firearms regulatory framework: the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) system and the Automated Firearms System (AFS)^[1].

DROS System Overview

The DROS system processes all firearms transactions conducted through licensed dealers. Every purchase, private party transfer (PPT), and intrafamilial transfer that goes through a dealer generates a DROS entry. The system initiates the mandatory 10-day waiting period and triggers the background check process. The total state fee is $37.19, consisting of a $31.19 DROS fee, a $1 Firearms Safety Act fee, and a $5 Safety and Enforcement fee. The DROS fee funds regulatory and enforcement activities related to firearms^[2].

Recent DROS Changes

The DOJ has implemented several updates to the DROS system:

• Processing improvements: During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, increased firearm sales, government office shutdowns and staffing shortages caused some background checks to exceed the 10-day waiting period. Standard DROS checks are now processed within the 10-day waiting period in most cases.
• Fee adjustments: DOJ set the DROS fee at $31.19 under Penal Code Section 28233, with the completed regulations effective December 2, 2021. The current fee structure covers the background check, firearms eligibility determination, and database entry.
• Digital submission: Dealers now submit DROS entries electronically through the DOJ's online portal, replacing the previous paper-based system.

Automated Firearms System

The AFS is the DOJ's database of registered firearms in California. It includes records from DROS transactions, assault weapon registrations, voluntary registrations, and law enforcement records. The AFS is used for ownership verification, stolen property checks, and prohibited person cross-referencing.

AFS Data Quality Issues

The AFS has faced criticism for data quality problems, including duplicate entries, incomplete records from pre-digital transactions, and missing records of dealer sales of rifles and shotguns before January 1, 2014, when DOJ was prohibited from retaining those sale records. The DOJ has acknowledged these issues and is working on data cleanup efforts.

Armed Prohibited Persons System

Related to both DROS and AFS is the Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS), which cross-references firearms ownership records with prohibited person databases. APPS identifies individuals who legally acquired firearms but subsequently became prohibited from possession. The system generates leads for DOJ agents to investigate and, if warranted, confiscate firearms from prohibited persons^[3].