Well, assuming you do not have a significant criminal record, all you have to do is move away from the Peoples Republic of California. Arizona is good and close too if you really want to be near family, but I prefer Florida for my gun buying.
While stationed there I picked up quite a few nice guns for the collection. That was a steal Dave. Depending on the handgrip and light types the rifle combo is worth between $1000 to $1500 easy. Bushmaster is a really good brand too. I have three of them, an M-4 an AR-15A2 and a long barreled Bushmaster .308 (Very nice weapon that .308). I picked up one of the last Colt built AR-15's before they stopped manufacture for the civilian market. I have a Rock River Entry Tactical (basiclly an M-4) dolled up with fancy gadgets... OK, just a foregrip, collapsable stock, Hoage grip, a surefire laser/light combo and an ACOG 4x sight. Even if it is not fired it will scare the crap out of anyone dumb enough to break in to my place. I use my .308 for long ranges so I have it equipped with a Harris Bipod and a Leupold VII scope and have been able to hit targets out to 800 yards (the limit of my laser rangefinder) within a five to nine inch spread usually... which is good for me. My best was a three inch spread at 800 yards but that was a fluke. All of my M-16 derivative rifles are far more accurate than the crappy Rumanian AK-47 I have. Next on the list for acquisition is an M-14 or depending on whether I can save enough money on my next cruise a Barrett M-82A1/M-107.