Handgun Ownership Age Question

[CmdrSlander]

I know it is illegal to buy a handgun or handgun ammo when one is under 21 years of age, but is it illegal to possess such things (inherited, given as a gift, etc.) if one is an adult (over 18) but under 21? I'm asking on behalf of one of my nephews, whose father wants to give him a Ruger .45 ACP pistol and a few boxes of ammo for self defense when he drives alone across the country this winter.

 

[N003k]

Federal law only addresses to whom an FFL can sell. As far as the feds are concerned, an 18 year old can possess a handgun, they just cannot purchase it from an FFL.

The problem is state laws. And since you said this is for a cross country trip, that's a BIG problem. He would have to check the laws for every state he was in to ensure he could legally possess a handgun within the state, and wouldn't need any licenses to do so.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Federal law only addresses to whom an FFL can sell. As far as the feds are concerned, an 18 year old can possess a handgun, they just cannot purchase it from an FFL.

The problem is state laws. And since you said this is for a cross country trip, that's a BIG problem. He would have to check the laws for every state he was in to ensure he could legally possess a handgun within the state, and wouldn't need any licenses to do so.

He's driving from West Virginia to Nevada, assuming he stays in the gun-friendly south and southwest, do you think he will be alright?

 

[smalls]

Www.handgunlaw.us

Tell him to read up on EVERY state he'll be driving through. Wouldn't hurt to print them out, and keep them in the car for reference.

 

[Frank Ettin]

He's driving from West Virginia to Nevada, assuming he stays in the gun-friendly south and southwest, do you think he will be alright?

There's no way to know without doing the research for each State he'll pass through.

Just above, smalls provided a link to Handgunlaw.us. That's an excellent place to start.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

a Ruger .45 ACP pistol and a few boxes of ammo for self defense when he drives alone across the country this winter.

You've got more than possession laws to worry about in that case. It won't do him too much good if it has to be locked up or stored in a case.

 

[Black Knight]

Just out of curiousity do the newphew and his father live in the same state? If so then it would depend on that state's law. If for whatever reason they live in seperate states a transfer would have to be done at an FFL in the recipient's state and federal law kicks in in addition to the state's law. They initial question combined with the trip from one state to another sparked my interest.

 

[razorback2003]

As a private individual, an 18 year old can buy a handgun from another private individual in Tennessee. I believe this is the same for Arkansas and Texas.

 

[rhinoh]

and South Carolina

 

[rhinoh]

and South Carolina. Interesting twist though, an 18 yr old can have a handgun but in SC WalMart will not sell handgun ammo to anyone under 21.
Don't know if other sellers are the same or not...

 

[NavyLCDR]

and South Carolina. Interesting twist though, an 18 yr old can have a handgun but in SC WalMart will not sell handgun ammo to anyone under 21.
Don't know if other sellers are the same or not...

If that WalMart has an FFL it would be a violation of Federal law for them to sell ammunition intended to be used in a handgun to anyone under 21 years old.