Glockman, the deal is that the .38s aren't on the "safe gun list" so you can't buy them from an out of state dealer and "import" them into CA, and a CA dealer that happens to have one can't sell it to CA residents. But I CAN (and have) bought one directly from another private party here! That's legal.
.357 GP-100s ARE on the "safe gun list" so you CAN buy them in or out of state. HOW MUCH SENSE DOES THIS MAKE?
The moral here is, if your legislators start EVEN CONSIDERING "consumer protection" legislation that has ANYTHING to do with firearms or ammunition, recognize it for what it is--PURELY "STEALTH" ANTIGUN legislation.
Our so-called "Safe Gun" legislation is some of the most irrational law ever written, and it makes handgun ownership in CA a REAL pain in the neck, which was the intention all along.
You can see for yourself how much "safer" it makes us.....for example, a K-38 S&W made on February 26, 1962 is "safe"--you can "import" it. But one made on the same line to the same specs on February 27, 1962 is "unsafe" tonight--not "safe" until tomorrow.....and it goes on like that.