My son is in Afghanistan (3d tour) and will be returning to California. Does California add much red tape to getting / having a C&R?

Therein lies the problem. CA DOJ doesn't send out any memos about changes in compliance, it's all on the C&R holder to know the law. As far as getting one...it's all federal...you'll probably never hear from CA DOJ. Frankly a C&R in Calif is just about useless, you still need the Certificate of Compliance, guns acquired out of state and brought back require processing.

There's more to it than that, California has it's own special requirements to hold C&R.

I believe it's called a certificate of something, Sorry can't remember.