At what age can a minor own a rifle in Missouri?

[SteadyD]

Thread title says it all. Thanks for any help!

 

[12Bravo20]

Per both Missouri and Federal law, one must be 18 to purchase a rifle or shotgun. There really isn't anything set in stone for possession of a rifle or shotgun by a minor under 18 with parental permission. The key is "parental permission".

 

[SteadyD]

Thank you. As a bit of background, I recently bought a 22 that I (among other things such as plinking and perhaps squirrel hunting) intend to teach my son to shoot with. It has an adjustable length of pull, a bipod, optics ready and is a bolt action with a safety.

Given these features I figured it would be easy to distill our first range trips down to just focusing on safety while still having success shooting. Keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction will be pretty easy given that it will be on a bipod.

At some point I would like to buy him a rifle of his very own, assuming he enjoys shooting. So, I spent some time researching what age he must be in order for me to legally do so.

My research suggests that neither Federal or State law sets a minimum age for long gun ownership by a minor, presuming parental consent. As I’m his father it would appear the only legal stipulation (my consent) is met at the time I deem him mature enough to own his own gun. Obviously he wouldn’t have unfettered access to whatever long gun that ends up being, but he could legally “call it his own”.

However, as I’ve learned from reading here at THR, what seems like an obvious interpretation of statutes often times is anything but. In as much, I wanted to check with the folks here who have a better understanding of the law than I do.

As you can see, I already have researched all of this, I was just hopeful someone could help either confirm or deny what I’ve interpreted the laws to mean, without having to type a long winded post.

If anyone else can help shed any additional light on this subject I would be much appreciated. I am still a few years away from making said purchase, but I just want to know how long away that is. Must he be 18, or am I empowered to decide the age based on what I feel is his level of maturity?

As always, thanks in advance.

 

[12Bravo20]

As you have described that you will have access control over the rifle and you are the parent/legal guardian, you are good to go. It is quite legal for a parent to buy a firearm and gift it to their child. You are still the legal purchaser even if you gift it to your son.

 

[Odd Job]

I'm going to clean this thread up. Those who couldn't be helpful should rather not have posted anything at all.

 

[CapnMac]

Well, looking at Missouri statutes
So, possession by certain persons prohibited appears here: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=571.070&bid=48671

71.070. Possession of firearm unlawful for certain persons — penalty — exception. — 1. A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm if such person knowingly has any firearm in his or her possession and:

  (1) Such person has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state, or of a crime under the laws of any state or of the United States which, if committed within this state, would be a felony; or

  (2) Such person is a fugitive from justice, is habitually in an intoxicated or drugged condition, or is currently adjudged mentally incompetent.

  2. Unlawful possession of a firearm is a class D felony, unless a person has been convicted of a dangerous felony as defined in section 556.061, in which case it is a class C felony.

  3. The provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to the possession of an antique firearm.

Age appears here: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=571.060&bid=33625

571.060. Unlawful transfer of weapons, penalty. — 1. A person commits the offense of unlawful transfer of weapons if he:

  (1) Knowingly sells, leases, loans, gives away or delivers a firearm or ammunition for a firearm to any person who, under the provisions of section 571.070, is not lawfully entitled to possess such;

  (2) Knowingly sells, leases, loans, gives away or delivers a blackjack to a person less than eighteen years old without the consent of the child's custodial parent or guardian, or recklessly, as defined in section 562.016, sells, leases, loans, gives away or delivers any firearm to a person less than eighteen years old without the consent of the child's custodial parent or guardian; provided, that this does not prohibit the delivery of such weapons to any peace officer or member of the Armed Forces or National Guard while performing his official duty; or

  (3) Recklessly, as defined in section 562.016, sells, leases, loans, gives away or delivers a firearm or ammunition for a firearm to a person who is intoxicated.

  2. Unlawful transfer of weapons under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section is a class E felony; unlawful transfer of weapons under subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

)emphasis added)
Note that firearms are not defined, only a specific type of non-firearm weapon.

So, as long as your children are not felons, in possession of controlled substances or inebriated, they are allowed to possess at such age as the parent deems apropos.