Handgun at 20.

[JG727]

Ok, Here are the details.

I am 20. I turn 21 in October.
I live in Florida.

I know that I cannot purchase a handgun from a dealer.
While I don't intend to, I was wondering if I could theoretically purchase a handgun from a private party.
This is theoretical. My mother already bought a Ruger Mk I and will give it to me as a 21st birthday present.

Could I transport the gun in my car to and from the range without "adult" supervision? The guy at my favorite gun shop was emphatic in his "NO".

But i think I remember reading a law saying I could, with permission. I think it was a state law, and I think it also had an exception for 16 year olds carrying a rifle/shotgun for hunting/target shooting. But I could be getting a lot of details wrong because I read it about a year ago.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

You can buy a handgun from a private party or receive one as a gift.

As to the transportation once you are 18 a gun in your car is fine as long it is in a closed container, whether or not locked.

 

[JG727]

Oops, posted before I was finished.

I have done this before: I have taken my dad's Sauer 38H to the range. None of the usually over strict range officers even batted an eye at me showing up unaccompanied and shooting a pistol; they just asked if I knew the range rules and did I need help setting up a target (I look young for 20 )

I don't really have a problem with the employee of the shop telling me this, even if he was wrong, because he had the best intentions in mind, and was looking to keep me out of trouble.

 

[JG727]

You can buy a handgun from a private party or receive one as a gift.

As to the transportation once you are 18 a gun in your car is fine as long it is in a closed container, whether or not locked.

Thanks, I try to always transport guns in closed cases, WAY in the back of the SUV, and usually (if they are unenclosed rifles) with the action open, or even the bolt out.

My goal is to put any LEO's at ease, I don't need any flack from them, and they don't need the extra stress.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

No problem, now start begging your mom for an early birthday present haha.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I don't really have a problem with the employee of the shop telling me this, even if he was wrong, because he had the best intentions in mind, and was looking to keep me out of trouble.

The expression of his ignorance may keep 18 to 20 year old persons in the future from exercising a right and legal behavior that they would enjoy engaging in. I, personally, do have a problem with that.

 

[JG727]

Technically, I'll get it before then. I'm moving North Carolina in early July. Going to gunsmithing school near Charlotte NC and I asked for a semi-automatic handgun I could afford to feed ammo.

 

[JG727]

I kinda do too, but it wasn't worth arguing about, and I understand where he was coming from. And I wasn't gonna fight a losing battle in front of my mom, and not without documentation to back up my case.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I kinda do too, but it wasn't worth arguing about, and I understand where he was coming from. And I wasn't gonna fight a losing battle in front of my mom, and not without documentation to back up my case.

I understand that. Just a second, I'll post the relevent statutes in a bit.

Florida statute:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...ing=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.17.html

790.17 Furnishing weapons to minors under 18 years of age or persons of unsound mind and furnishing firearms to minors under 18 years of age prohibited.—
(1) A person who sells, hires, barters, lends, transfers, or gives any minor under 18 years of age any dirk, electric weapon or device, or other weapon, other than an ordinary pocketknife, without permission of the minor’s parent or guardian, or sells, hires, barters, lends, transfers, or gives to any person of unsound mind an electric weapon or device or any dangerous weapon, other than an ordinary pocketknife, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2)(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully sell or transfer a firearm to a minor under 18 years of age, except that a person may transfer ownership of a firearm to a minor with permission of the parent or guardian. A person who violates this paragraph commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(b) The parent or guardian must maintain possession of the firearm except pursuant to s. 790.22.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes...ing=&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.25.html

790.25 Lawful ownership, possession, and use of firearms and other weapons.—

(5) POSSESSION IN PRIVATE CONVEYANCE.—Notwithstanding subsection (2), it is lawful and is not a violation of s. 790.01 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private conveyance, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing herein contained prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on the person. This subsection shall be liberally construed in favor of the lawful use, ownership, and possession of firearms and other weapons, including lawful self-defense as provided in s. 776.012.

The Federal age limit for possession of handguns, except in limited certain circumstances, is also 18 (look at paragraph (x)(5).

18 USC 922 (x):
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html

Hope that helps.

 

[tyeo098]

I bought my first handgun (CZ75B) from a man with 2 teeth in Tampa.
Drove there to get it too. I was 19.
Second one I traded an SKS for a PA-63 in Lakeland.

I miss the SKS