TED, I can't of course speak for California, but used to here in Missouri you had to apply for a PERMIT TO PURCHASE a (handgun). It WAS NOT a registration form (but of course could be used to trace serial numbers) as when the firearm was purchased and returned to the office of issuance it was recorded in a book with the name of the purchaser, make, model, serial number, caliber and when it was purchased. Here the book was kept in the File drawers and was USUALLY only looked at when someone had one stolen and didn't know the serial number.

FYI.