(a) For 90 days following January 1, 1992, a forgiveness period shall exist to allow any person specified in subdivision (b) of former Section 12280, as it reads in Section 4.5 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, to register with the Department of Justice any assault weapon that the person lawfully possessed prior to June 1, 1989.
(b) (1) Any person who registers an assault weapon during the 90-day forgiveness period described in subdivision (a), and any person whose registration form was received by the Department of Justice after January 1, 1991, and who was issued a temporary registration prior to the end of the forgiveness period, shall not be charged with a violation of subdivision (b) of former Section 12280, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989 or as subsequently amended, if law enforcement becomes aware of that violation only as a result of the registration of the assault weapon.
(2) This section shall have no effect upon any person charged prior to January 1, 1992, with a violation of subdivision (b) of former Section 12280 as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989 or as subsequently amended, provided that law enforcement was aware of the violation before the weapon was registered.