18 year olds and hand guns.

[Sentryau2]

Ok so I know it is illegal for a dealer to sell someone under the age of 21 a hand gun. I thought that meant no one under 18 can have a hand gun, however I've found a few places that say otherwise.

http://www.salon.com/2013/02/05/18_year_olds_can_buy_handguns/

The Gun Control Act of 1968 made it illegal for a gun dealer to sell handgun to anyone under the age of 21. “Sales of handguns and ammunition for handguns are limited to persons 21 years of age and older,” the ATF’s official Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide states. But the agency’s regulations only apply to federally licensed firearms dealers, not to non-professional private sellers.
“A high school senior in most states can go to a gun show, go online, or any other place that they might find a private seller and lawfully purchase a gun that they couldn’t otherwise at a gun dealer,” explained David Chipman, a former ATF special agent who now works with Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
“That is correct,” confirmed George Semonick of the ATF. “Under federal law, it’s not unlawful for an 18-year-old to posses a handgun,” Semonick explained to Salon, though some states have their own age requirements for handgun possession.
and according to this http://smartgunlaws.org/minimum-age-to-purchase-possess-firearms-policy-summary/ The age for missouri is 18, so theoretically I can go buy a hand gun at 18 from someone face to face or from a private seller at a gun show.

Again I'm not interested in buy (a few months away from 18 tho) I am just very intrigued by this. Honestly I don't really agree with it but then I don't disagree with it. Someone is 18 can fight in a war and vote but not drink or buy a hand gun (I would not want them to be able to do both at the same time ) I kind of feel if an 18 year old wants a hand gun they should be able to go purchase one, if they can get approved by the local sheriff or PD kind of like what is done with a nfa item correct? (minus the 200 tax stamp lol)

 

[jak67429]

Don't forget to check your state laws. some states have age restrictions also.

 

[lpsharp88]

I may be reading this wrong, but you're saying that 18 year old should be allowed to purchase a handgun IF they get a LEO to sign off on it? Nah, I'll pass. If a 18 year old can enlist in the military and be able to shoot any weapon they can think of, then they should be able to fill out a 4473 and purchase a handgun. Just my $.02

 

[smalls]

Why should they have to ask permission to exercise one right, but not any others? Did you ask your sheriff before posting on this website?

They're adults, and deserve to be treated as such.

I'll never understand why people are do eager to give away their rights

 

[tyeo098]

Buy it from a private sale.

Perfectly legal and easy. Thats how I did it when I was 19.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I have bought 5 handguns from private sellers here in Michigan. I'm 19.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

Here in Tennessee you have to be 18 to use one.

 

[HexHead]

Here in Tennessee you have to be 18 to use one.

And you can also buy one in a private sale. The 21 and over rule only applies to FFLs.

 

[Sentryau2]

There are a ton of 18 year olds here who cannot handle a long gun. I hear about people shooting themselves atleast twice a week. I hear about punks shooting pets and sometimes they shoot out someones window. The officers cannot really do anything or thats what they say. Parents no longer want to be parents. It just seems like no one wants any responsibility and very few people my age have any common sense. Im afraid if I had the money I would be moving to alaska, or atleast some place very very very very far away from everyone.

 

[Prophet]

The fact of the matter is, there are a lot of people OVER the age of 18 who don't know jack about handling anything that fires a projectile. I see it every weekend I work at our paintball field. If we didn't give a lengthy safety orientation at the beginning of each group we'd have a mess. I've had thirty year old men come onto the field that you couldn't afford to take your eyes off of, and twelve year old kids who could probably teach a portion of the safety orientation themselves given their proficiency and safety. It's not really an age problem IMO, it's a maturity problem.

 

[Old Fuff]

Where I live (Arizona) a young adult that has reached his/her 18th birthday can purchase a handgun from another resident, and a rifle or shotgun from either a dealer or private person.

But that's just the start. Having obtained a handgun they can carry it, either openally or concealed - with no licence or permit being required. They do however have to have a "clean" background.

And contrary to what some might expect, these young adults have behaved responsibly and caused no extraordinary problems. None of the supposed objections or negatives has come to pass.

I highly doubt that our young adults are any different then those in other states. The thing is though, those others haven't been given a chance to prove it.

 

[Field Tester]

I thought Vermont was the only state you could CCW without permit?

 

[David G.]

I bought a handgun when I was 18. I OC'ed it when I would take dog for walks during dark Alaska nights. I wish I could've conceal carried it legally. Neither me or my gun ever felt the urge to shoot anyone. Am 22 now.

 

[Old Fuff]

I thought Vermont was the only state you could CCW without permit?

In Arizona you can still get a Concealed Weapons License, but where it was once required it is now optional. Many (including the Old Fuff) still have one, because it is recognized in some other states, and when buying from an FFL they can write down the number and pass doing the NICS background check.

One thing I didn't mention is that an individual who is at least 18 years old with a clean record can enjoy the same rights (and responsibilities) when/if they come for a visit. You can't purchase guns unless they are delivered through an FFL in they're home state.

 

[Field Tester]

Thanks Old Fluff. Good to know if I decide to make a trip into Yuma.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

And you can also buy one in a private sale. The 21 and over rule only applies to FFLs.

I guess I should have mentioned that I bought my first handgun in Tennessee at the age of 19 from a friend. It was a small 25 auto that I did not own it long. Ended up selling it to my uncle that had allot smaller hands than I do. The slide sliced the web of my hand open once and I knew then I needed a larger gun to fit my hand. I never fired it again.

 

[Davek1977]

I hear about people shooting themselves atleast twice a week. I hear about punks shooting pets and sometimes they shoot out someones window. The officers cannot really do anything or thats what they say

I find this statement rather hard to believe. Theres a rash of incidents involving young people shooting themselves...pets....people's HOMES...and the cops say they can "do nothing about it"? I alos find the overall premise of your post flawed.... the irresponsibility of some shouldn't restrict the rights of all....I'm NOT in favor of laws that cater to the least common denominator of society rather than taking into account the rights of the many.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I bought my first handgun at 18, I'm now 20 and have a CCW. I'm pretty sure worse things happen much more frequently with kids driving cars than owning a handgun. There is no good reason why 18 year olds can't buy booze or a handgun from a dealer. 3 years doesn't make much of a difference, it all varies on ones upbringing more than anything.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I bought my first handgun in 1972 in a private sale and got a concealled carry permit that same year. I was 19 years old. Haven't had an AD yet and I'm 60 now. Alabama the Beautiful!

 

[NavyLCDR]

There are a ton of 18 year olds here who cannot handle a long gun.

And a ton of people over 21 years old who cannot handle a long gun, what's so unique about that?

I hear about people shooting themselves atleast twice a week. I hear about punks shooting pets and sometimes they shoot out someones window. The officers cannot really do anything or thats what they say.

I have heard of exactly the same things. I've heard the same things from the Brady Campaign, from the Violence Policy Center, and from the local anti-gun people in my community that wanted to ban guns in public parks a while back. Just wondering which anti-gun groups you have been hearing your "facts" from?

Parents no longer want to be parents. It just seems like no one wants any responsibility and very few people my age have any common sense.

And what is going to change about that when the offspring of the parents who don't want to be parents, who don't want any responsibility, and who don't have any common sense turn 21 or some other magical age? Nothing, except they will qualify for welfare.

Im afraid if I had the money I would be moving to alaska, or atleast some place very very very very far away from everyone.

Move to Alaska? Really? You do understand that Alaska has some of the most relaxed gun laws in the nation right? So how does moving to a state that has the most relaxed gun laws in the country support the following statement you made:

I kind of feel if an 18 year old wants a hand gun they should be able to go purchase one, if they can get approved by the local sheriff or PD

I would think, instead, that you should look at moving to a state where residents are required to ask their local law enforcement for permission to exercise their rights already.

 

[Davek1977]

Well said, NavyLCDR

 

[X-Rap]

Having been once I think most are more mature at 21 than 18. Having said that I don't believe we can split up rights and responsibilities either so I say 21 for adulthood and all that comes with it. Moving the age to 18 was a voting scam, 18 year old still in school and sitting at the bars was a tragedy. I feel the same way about service and draft or registration.
Both ages are arbitrary since some will be mature at 16 or 17 and others maybe never but splitting up between the 2 ages is insulting to all.
Lowering the age of majority also takes parents off the hook 3 years earlier in the legal sense but there are still a fair amount of kids still home living off the teat at 21.
So since I was left to roam at 14 with my little Colt I have no problem with kids and guns at the age that the Parent decides they are ready with the right to do as one pleases coming at 21.

 

[Sentryau2]

lol no you see its not the gun laws i dislike. Id prefer the nfa tax stamp bs be removed. I meant if I had the money I would move to alaska simply for the remoteness of it. I find the idea kind of wonderful, no one around for miles and miles. Sounds like my kind of paradise. I suppose all of you are right, now I find myself on the other side of the argument, why shouldent an 18 year old not be able to buy a hand gun from an ffl dealer it.

Tho I dont think we have a very good chance at getting the laws changed that are already on the books. but regarding gun laws, how many here support the nfa tax stamp and etc that you have to go through to get certain firearms and accessories.

 

[Zoogster]

Having been once I think most are more mature at 21 than 18.

Many still are closer to high school teens and children than adults at that age. But it is not an age thing but society extending childhood. I am not sure that is a bad thing, but it certainly keeps people less mature longer.
I know looking through our history that in the 1950s most began thier career before finishing high school. That means they probably had to mature and deal with adult issues sooner.
While today some mid 20s students in college are only slightly different than one in high school. They are just contuing the same type of lifestyle one has as a child.
Additionally schools are much more restrictive and protective environments than they used to be, and children protected from themselves more at home and at school, reducing the need to rely on thier own self restraint, and meaning the level of self restraint in many young adults may be what a young teenager had in some prior generations.
But one could argue that is better overall, resulting in higher education and letting kids mature at an unhurried pace.

Part of it is longer educations. Many college environments are more of an extension of high school than an actual adult level of reponsibility. At least for a few years until whatever they are or are not doing results in adult consequences.

This may be even worse today, as I know since the economy took a dive nearly 5 years ago now many students have chosen to just remain students and get more and more education rather than joining the work force.
So I imagine a higher percentage of young adults are less mature than typical.
Remaining a full time student living on parents or debt only teaches a little more wisdom than they already had picked up by middle or high school.
So maturity is delayed.

It may have better overall results. Yet when dealing with issues like firearms, it has its own implications.

 

[Averageman]

If a 18 year old can enlist in the military and be able to shoot any weapon they can think of, then they should be able to fill out a 4473 and purchase a handgun. Just my $.02
There is usually a very big difference between someone who can join the Military and someone at 18 who has joined the Military and is serving.
The whole "I could be drafted so I should be able to ( Fill in Blank )" is a bit old and tiresome and often used by a Legion of 19 year olds sitting in Moms basement in a cloud of pot smoke without a job, High School Diploma or any prospects.
Maturity is not granted by a magic number, it is taught by parents to their children.