Pen. Code, § 16840 · Division 2. DEFINITIONS
Pen. Code, § 16840
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) As used in Section 25800, a firearm shall be deemed to be “loaded” whenever both the firearm and the unexpended ammunition capable of being discharged from the firearm are in the immediate possession of the same person.
(b) As used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 4 of Title 4, in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 25400, and in Sections 25850 to 26055, inclusive,
(1) A firearm shall be deemed to be “loaded” when there is an unexpended cartridge or shell, consisting of a case that holds a charge of powder and a bullet or shot, in, or attached in any manner to, the firearm, including, but not limited to, in the firing chamber, magazine, or clip thereof attached to the firearm.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a muzzle-loader firearm shall be deemed to be loaded when it is capped or primed and has a powder charge and ball or shot in the barrel or cylinder.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=16840.
- Text hash
- sha256 746e39ef8dc59d4435e10ceec7e36161b03e5f823036356cbeb572db5b82d2f8
- Composed by
- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Penal Code
- Pen. Code, pt. 6, tit. 4, div. 4, ch. 2Criminal Storage of FirearmPrinted as Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 4 of Title 4
- Pen. Code, § 25400Printed as Section 25400
- Pen. Code, § 25800Printed as Section 25800
- Pen. Code, § 25850Printed as Sections 25850 to 26055, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26055Printed as Sections 25850 to 26055, inclusive
Cited by 3 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Pen. Code, § 16840. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Welfare and Institutions Code
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.