MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
JOHN J. WILSON, Bankruptcy Judge.
The Debtor filed a COMPLAINT TO AVOID LIEN under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f) against ITT Financial Corporation. After a hearing on August 30, 1988, the Court holds that the creditor’s lien in “seven antique guns” may not be avoided under § 522(f).
FACTS
In September 1985, the Debtor obtained a loan from ITT Financial Services for $2,695.94. The loan was secured by a non-purchase money security interest in various personal property with a claimed value of $14,870. The collateral included seven antique rifles” with a stated value of $4,500. On December 24, 1987, the Debtor filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and he included the seven antique guns as exempt on his amended B-4 schedules.
ISSUES
The issues are (1) whether the seven antique guns are exempt under California law, and (2) may the Debtor avoid the lien on the guns pursuant to § 522(f).
I. DISCUSSION
A. Lien Avoidance Under Bankruptcy Code
Certain liens that impair exemptions may be avoided under § 522(f).
Where a state has opted out of the federal exemptions provided in § 522(d), state law determines what property is exempt, but federal law determines the availability of a lien avoidance.
Matter of Thompson,
750 F.2d 628, 630 (8th Cir.1984);
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. 117, 121 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Cal.1988).
California has opted out of the federal exemptions, California
Code of Civil Procedure
(C.C.P.) § 703.130. In its exemption scheme, California offers debtors a choice between two mutually exclusive exemption lists. The Debtor has chosen the exemption list offered in C.C.P. § 703.140(b), (which mirrors the federal exemption list), and has claimed an exemption in the rifles pursuant to C.C.P. § 703.140(b)(3), (5). Although neither ITT Financial nor any other party has timely objected to the Debtor’s claimed exemptions, because of the dual state exemption and federal lien avoidance analysis, it is necessary to examine whether this property is exempt under California law.
B. California Exemption Law
California’s exemption statutes do not expressly define household furnishings; however, such property is exempt if “ordinarily and reasonably necessary to, and personally used or procured for use” by the debtor.
“Ordinarily and reasonably necessary” is to be determined by considering both the extent such an item is ordinarily found in a household and whether it has extraordinary value when compared with the same type of item found in other households.
The debtor chose to claim the exemptions under California C.C.P. § 703.140
which does not define “house
hold furnishings or ' household goods.” However, the expanded description of such property found in § 704.020 should apply as well to these terms as used in § 703.140.
II. DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit has determined that California courts have placed substantial emphasis on the debtor’s station in life and manner of living when deciding whether to exempt such household goods from execution.
See In re Lucas,
77 B.R. 242, 245 (9th Cir. BAP 1987). Basing its decision on the broad language of California statutes and the bankruptcy policy of liberally construing exemptions in favor of debtors, the
Lucas
Court concluded that the debtor could exempt golf clubs, camera equipment, exercise bikes and Hummel figurines as household furnishings.
Id.
at 245. The list of exempt property continues to expand. A partial list of personal property which has been held to be exempt under § 522(f), includes VCRs, stereos, telephone answering machines, paintings, Hummel figurines, beer steins, golf clubs, exercise bikes, camera equipment, bicycles, camping equipment, fishing equipment, personal computers and exercise equipment.
Id.
at 245-46;
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. at 119, 121.
Because of the nature of firearms, many courts have concluded that firearms are outside the definition of exempt property (unless specifically included in the statute), and they have not allowed liens against firearms to be avoided.
See In re Oswald,
85 B.R. 541 (W.D.Mo.1986);
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. 117 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Cal.1988);
In re Weaver,
78 B.R. 135 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Tex.1987);
In re Wetzel,
46 B.R. 254 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Va.1984);
In re Noggle,
80 B.R. 303 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Mich.1983).
This concensus among the bankruptcy courts appears to be rooted in the ever changing definition of the ordinary household. In our modern urban, industrial, technological and service oriented society, firearms are not usually considered reasonably necessary household furnishings as they would have been 100 years ago on the frontier. However, the argument here does not involve the use of these rifles for protection or to procure food for the table. Rather, the plaintiffs argument is that all of these firearms have a significant, personal and intimate family history and they are used exclusively for display or conversation purposes just like a painting or Hummel figurine. Plaintiff’s unchallenged declaration reveals how he inherited these guns from his great grandfather and grandfather who actually played a part in the colorful history of the American West.
The Debtor has stated that he does not use these rifles for hunting or target practice.
ITT Financial contends that none of the rifles are antiques, rather they are primarily sporting items and therefore the lien should not be avoided, citing
In re Eve-land, Id.
The evidence does not support this contention. ITT offered expert testimony regarding the value of these rifles based on their age and condition. The expert witness, Joe Poyer, inspected the rifles just before the hearing, and he appraised them in a range of $200 to $995 with a total
value of $3,200.
He also testified that none of the rifles would qualify as an “antique” as defined by either the Customs Department (100 year rule) or by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (manufactured 1898 or before). Poyer’s declaration states that an undocumented history of an old firearm has nothing to do with its value and many old firearms have little or no value to collectors. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that the rifles were used by the Debtor for sporting purposes.
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MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
JOHN J. WILSON, Bankruptcy Judge.
The Debtor filed a COMPLAINT TO AVOID LIEN under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f) against ITT Financial Corporation. After a hearing on August 30, 1988, the Court holds that the creditor’s lien in “seven antique guns” may not be avoided under § 522(f).
FACTS
In September 1985, the Debtor obtained a loan from ITT Financial Services for $2,695.94. The loan was secured by a non-purchase money security interest in various personal property with a claimed value of $14,870. The collateral included seven antique rifles” with a stated value of $4,500. On December 24, 1987, the Debtor filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and he included the seven antique guns as exempt on his amended B-4 schedules.
ISSUES
The issues are (1) whether the seven antique guns are exempt under California law, and (2) may the Debtor avoid the lien on the guns pursuant to § 522(f).
I. DISCUSSION
A. Lien Avoidance Under Bankruptcy Code
Certain liens that impair exemptions may be avoided under § 522(f).
Where a state has opted out of the federal exemptions provided in § 522(d), state law determines what property is exempt, but federal law determines the availability of a lien avoidance.
Matter of Thompson,
750 F.2d 628, 630 (8th Cir.1984);
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. 117, 121 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Cal.1988).
California has opted out of the federal exemptions, California
Code of Civil Procedure
(C.C.P.) § 703.130. In its exemption scheme, California offers debtors a choice between two mutually exclusive exemption lists. The Debtor has chosen the exemption list offered in C.C.P. § 703.140(b), (which mirrors the federal exemption list), and has claimed an exemption in the rifles pursuant to C.C.P. § 703.140(b)(3), (5). Although neither ITT Financial nor any other party has timely objected to the Debtor’s claimed exemptions, because of the dual state exemption and federal lien avoidance analysis, it is necessary to examine whether this property is exempt under California law.
B. California Exemption Law
California’s exemption statutes do not expressly define household furnishings; however, such property is exempt if “ordinarily and reasonably necessary to, and personally used or procured for use” by the debtor.
“Ordinarily and reasonably necessary” is to be determined by considering both the extent such an item is ordinarily found in a household and whether it has extraordinary value when compared with the same type of item found in other households.
The debtor chose to claim the exemptions under California C.C.P. § 703.140
which does not define “house
hold furnishings or ' household goods.” However, the expanded description of such property found in § 704.020 should apply as well to these terms as used in § 703.140.
II. DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit has determined that California courts have placed substantial emphasis on the debtor’s station in life and manner of living when deciding whether to exempt such household goods from execution.
See In re Lucas,
77 B.R. 242, 245 (9th Cir. BAP 1987). Basing its decision on the broad language of California statutes and the bankruptcy policy of liberally construing exemptions in favor of debtors, the
Lucas
Court concluded that the debtor could exempt golf clubs, camera equipment, exercise bikes and Hummel figurines as household furnishings.
Id.
at 245. The list of exempt property continues to expand. A partial list of personal property which has been held to be exempt under § 522(f), includes VCRs, stereos, telephone answering machines, paintings, Hummel figurines, beer steins, golf clubs, exercise bikes, camera equipment, bicycles, camping equipment, fishing equipment, personal computers and exercise equipment.
Id.
at 245-46;
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. at 119, 121.
Because of the nature of firearms, many courts have concluded that firearms are outside the definition of exempt property (unless specifically included in the statute), and they have not allowed liens against firearms to be avoided.
See In re Oswald,
85 B.R. 541 (W.D.Mo.1986);
In re Eveland,
87 B.R. 117 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Cal.1988);
In re Weaver,
78 B.R. 135 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Tex.1987);
In re Wetzel,
46 B.R. 254 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Va.1984);
In re Noggle,
80 B.R. 303 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Mich.1983).
This concensus among the bankruptcy courts appears to be rooted in the ever changing definition of the ordinary household. In our modern urban, industrial, technological and service oriented society, firearms are not usually considered reasonably necessary household furnishings as they would have been 100 years ago on the frontier. However, the argument here does not involve the use of these rifles for protection or to procure food for the table. Rather, the plaintiffs argument is that all of these firearms have a significant, personal and intimate family history and they are used exclusively for display or conversation purposes just like a painting or Hummel figurine. Plaintiff’s unchallenged declaration reveals how he inherited these guns from his great grandfather and grandfather who actually played a part in the colorful history of the American West.
The Debtor has stated that he does not use these rifles for hunting or target practice.
ITT Financial contends that none of the rifles are antiques, rather they are primarily sporting items and therefore the lien should not be avoided, citing
In re Eve-land, Id.
The evidence does not support this contention. ITT offered expert testimony regarding the value of these rifles based on their age and condition. The expert witness, Joe Poyer, inspected the rifles just before the hearing, and he appraised them in a range of $200 to $995 with a total
value of $3,200.
He also testified that none of the rifles would qualify as an “antique” as defined by either the Customs Department (100 year rule) or by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (manufactured 1898 or before). Poyer’s declaration states that an undocumented history of an old firearm has nothing to do with its value and many old firearms have little or no value to collectors. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that the rifles were used by the Debtor for sporting purposes.
If the Debtor had chosen the alternate exemption list allowed by California statute, he could have successfully claimed an exemption and avoided ITT’s lien in the seven antique guns as “heirlooms” where the aggregate value does not exceed $2,500. C.C.P. § 704.040. By choosing, instead, the “federal exemptions” the Debtor can prevail only if the rifles are found to be household furnishings. '
CONCLUSION
The lien avoidance ambit of § 522(f)(2)(A) is limited to those items of household furnishings and goods, clothes, books and appliances which are held primarily for the personal, family or household use of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor. Congress did not intend to include all consumer goods within § 522(f). Only that property which is listed or included within the appropriate federal or state exemption list and which affords the debtor a “fresh start” is subject to lien avoidance.
In
In re Lucas,
“California courts have held that in ‘deciding whether furniture or wearing apparel is necessary and should be exempted from execution the court will consider the station in life of the owner and the manner of comfortable living to which he has become accustomed’.”
In re Lucas,
77 B.R. at 245. Owning firearms no longer has anything to do with one’s station in life and manner of living; they have been replaced by other goods which are essential to the “fresh start” philosophy. Telephone answering machines, YCRs, stereos, and computers, make it possible for a debtor to quickly reestablish and make a fresh start in our society. Exercise and sports equipment, paintings and figurines permit debtors to physically and mentally “recharge their batteries” thereby improving both their performance and contribution to society and themselves. Here, the Debtor has voluntarily created a consensual lien in property not usually found in the average household, and which has a relatively high resale value. Courts should be reluctant to allow the avoidance of such a lien where the goods are not directly related to the physical or psychological “fresh start” of the debtor. I hold that these seven rifles do not qualify as exempt household goods and that the lien may not be avoided.
This memorandum shall constitute the findings of fact and conclusions of law. Counsel for ITT shall prepare and lodge a proposed judgment consistent with this memorandum of decision.