Ryan in the House
Member
First off, let me start this by saying that I am 18 years old, and I am staying with my mom in Maryland. I am a legal resident of the state of Virginia, though, and my only legally recognized address is with my dad who lives there. I voted in Virginia, and obtained my driver's license AND permit there.
I went onto Smith and Wesson's website, and checked out their link to the NRA's gun laws page (LINK). According to the Virginia state laws, "It is a crime for any person to sell, give or otherwise furnish a handgun to a minor if he has reason to believe that the buyer or recipient is under 18 years of age..." So that means that, as long as I have proof of my age (18), I can purchase a gun from a distributor? That is a pretty clearly written article, and I can't interpret it in any other way.
Here's the thing... I will need to transfer my residency to the state of Maryland soon, because I am going to be attending school here and getting a job here (so far, I have not done either - I just graduated high school in June of 2004). I plan to buy the handgun in Virginia, being a legal resident of the state, before changing my residency. The Maryland gun laws state that, as a person that is under 21, I can not purchase a handgun - but they say nothing about possessing one that has previously been legally purchased. Their only article about possession is this:
There is no point in that article that deals with minors, so I assume that a person under 21 can own a handgun as long as they have legally acquired it. Am I reading into this right? If I purchase a handgun in Virginia before I change residency, as an 18 year old, will I be able to keep it in Maryland?
I need to buy the gun very soon... like, within the month of January, before I change residency.
I went onto Smith and Wesson's website, and checked out their link to the NRA's gun laws page (LINK). According to the Virginia state laws, "It is a crime for any person to sell, give or otherwise furnish a handgun to a minor if he has reason to believe that the buyer or recipient is under 18 years of age..." So that means that, as long as I have proof of my age (18), I can purchase a gun from a distributor? That is a pretty clearly written article, and I can't interpret it in any other way.
Here's the thing... I will need to transfer my residency to the state of Maryland soon, because I am going to be attending school here and getting a job here (so far, I have not done either - I just graduated high school in June of 2004). I plan to buy the handgun in Virginia, being a legal resident of the state, before changing my residency. The Maryland gun laws state that, as a person that is under 21, I can not purchase a handgun - but they say nothing about possessing one that has previously been legally purchased. Their only article about possession is this:
Possession of a handgun is prohibited by any person who:
1. Has been convicted of a crime of violence.
2. Has been convicted of a violation of the Maryland Pistol Law.
3. Is a fugitive from justice.
4. Is a habitual drunkard.
5. Is an addict or habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates or amphetamines.
6. Suffers from a mental disorder and has a history of violent behavior, or has been confined for more than 30 consecutive days to a mental facility unless the person possesses a physician`s certificate stating that the person is capable of possessing a pistol or revolver without undue danger to the person or others. Such a person is also prohibited from possessing a rifle or shotgun, unless the person possesses an above described physician`s certificate.
7. Is under 30 with a juvenile delinquency adjudication for an offense that would have disqualified an adult is ineligible to possess a handgun or regulated firearm.
There is no point in that article that deals with minors, so I assume that a person under 21 can own a handgun as long as they have legally acquired it. Am I reading into this right? If I purchase a handgun in Virginia before I change residency, as an 18 year old, will I be able to keep it in Maryland?
I need to buy the gun very soon... like, within the month of January, before I change residency.