Pete,
I think your incorrect on a couple of things you stated. If you have a C&R and COE, then your exempt from the Handgun Safety Certificate on C&R guns. Here's the Attorney General website that shows the exemption.
http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/hscinfo.htm#hsccodes
Also, you don't have to register C&R guns. And as far as crime, last year Los Angeles was the murder capital in the U.S.