How many of you would sell a handgun to an 18 year old?

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50 years ago, you bet. Today, not a chance. It has nothing to do with any distrust of 18 year olds, but everything to do with our society today.


nero
 
Of course I would, if the buyer seems mature enough to me. I bought my first handguns when I turned 18 myself (private sale or from a gunshop, both is legal here when you are 18 or older)
 
I've known people under 18 I'd be willing to sell anything to (if I had a mind to sell) and forty-somethings I wouldn't trust with a pointy stick. Like others said, it depends on the person.
 
I thought you had to be 21 in Florida to buy a handgun? Rifle is 18.
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While you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun from an FFL, many states allow purchase from a private party at 18.

You can sell a handgun privately without a background check?? How am I supposed to know that the kid has a "clean record"?? I just don't think that it's a very good idea IMHO. I mean, this applies not only to 18 year-olds, but for anyone to be able to purchase a handgun privately without any background check...I'm not so sure about this.
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Some states have restrictions, but in many (possibly most) you can sell any gun in a private sale without any type of check.

You do understand this is the supposed 'gun show loophole'?

As long as you make a reasonable effort to make sure the person is a resident of you state and not otherwise prohibited from owning a firearm the sale is legal in many places.
 
QUOTE: "You can sell a handgun privately without a background check?? How am I supposed to know that the kid has a "clean record" "

What business is it of your's? Colorado State law doesn't regulate the private sale of firearms (except at a gunshow) .

I've bought rifles from COPS here & they didn't so much as ask to see an I.D.

This doesn't mean I'd sell to somebody I KNEW was a felon (regardless of age) but I'm not responsible to verify the moral character of the person I sell a gun to.

To put it another way, given that you are in all other respects legally able to purchase a firearm. How would you like to walk in to a gun show or gun shop, and have the owner deny you your right to purchase a firearm based on his first impression of you or a predjudice he's formed about your demographic?

Again this is all theoretical because I don't sell guns but if I put an add in the paper & an 18 Y/O showed up to buy, I'd check the I.D. to make sure of his age and sell him the gun. I'd get a bill of sale, but I'd sell the gun

TO CLARIFY: If the person in question (regardless of age) was someone I knew & because of something I knew to be true about them I didn't feel comfortable selling them a gun, I wouldn't do it. But if someone I didn't know was legally able to purchase the gun I'd sell it
 
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1911 guy
Senior Member



Join Date: 05-05-05
Location: Warren, Oh.
Posts: 3,256 I've known people under 18 I'd be willing to sell anything to (if I had a mind to sell) and forty-somethings I wouldn't trust with a pointy stick. Like others said, it depends on the person.

1911 guy is right on the money, I agree 100%
 
Well I bought my first at 18, my second and third at 19, my fourth and fifth at 20, and my sixth seventh and eighth at 21. So yes, if I were in the mood to sell one of my guns, I would be willing to sell to someone who struck me as responsible, respectful, and most importantly, at least slightly knowledgable. There are plenty of people I know who I wouldn't sell to, so in a way a stranger would get the benefit of the doubt. I have sold one of my guns, and I am still kicking myself for it, but not too hard, since it is replaceable (Ruger P89DC).

I feel a sort of personal history with most of my guns, especially the USP 40 and the CZ 97B, my first two, and my second revolver, which was the more heavily used of the two. S&W Model 28-2, I love it, I shoot it better than any other gun I've used, and I know it has a history as an LEO sidearm in an area not far from where I grew up.

A few people have looked me over and judged me based on my presentation, not my digits, and that has cemented me as a shooter now that I am "more of an adult", so I would extedn the same courtesy to someone else.

BTW I am 21.
 
If it were legal I would sell to an 18 year old in a heartbeat....provided that he had no history of mental illness and no convictions of violent crime (murder, rape, assualt, etc...).

If he's man enough to defend our nation then he's man enough to buy a handgun!
 
I've known people under 18 I'd be willing to sell anything to (if I had a mind to sell) and forty-somethings I wouldn't trust with a pointy stick. Like others said, it depends on the person.
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this, assuming it was legal to do so and I actually wanted to sell the gun( I've only ever sold two, both I absolutley hated)
 
So pat, are you saying that not being in the army means that you arent willing to accept discipline. maybe i just want to do something else with my life?

P.S. I have had a part time job since i was 14 and switched to fulltime during the summers.
 
California if you sell to a person under 21 (handgun) it is a violation of the law. If that person were to commit a crime with it...You are in deeper doodoo:uhoh:
 
I do have two revolvers that were gifted to me by my parent but once I am 18 next Saturday I will be able to acquire a handgun through a private deal instead of solely relying on my parent to gift me the handguns for the next 3 years.
Luckily I will be able get rifles and shotguns which are good to have for target practice and defense.Ammo for the handgun will be a pain to get because of the 21 law for it there I have to solely rely on my parent to buy me it with my money.Shotgun and Rifle ammo will be easy to get for me but calibers like .22lr from places like walmart I hear are a challenge even if I have a rifle chambered for it.But before I get another handgun I will probably look into getting an AK or something along those lines.
 
I wouldn't have a problem legally selling a gun to anyone I knew well enough to know they are responsible.

I wouldn't sell a gun to anyone I didn't know, regardless of age.
 
Age and maturity unfortunately do not always go hand in hand. I would have to judge based on the individual, whatever the age. I hope I never need to sell mine, though :)
 
I was already serving this country (Army) at 18. You know the saying, "Old enough to die for this country--old enough to vote & drink"...
I will admit that knowing someone at that age is important....If the appearance/attitude is of some "gang-banger"; might dwell on it some..
 
I agree with many here and in my mind it also extends to alcohol and cigars too: If oyu are old enough to die for your country, then you should be old enough to exercise your rights (firearms, alcohol, tobacco, anything!).
 
My daughter got her own place about 3 months after she turned 18. I gave her a handgun as a moving out present.

But as to what I think the spirit of the question is... I may, but it wouldn't be likely that I would sell to an 18yo I didn't know.


-T.

EDIT: I happen to agree with the 21-to-drink-alcohol laws. Guns don't impair judgement like booze does. But I would support a law that says 18 for serving memebrs of the military, and 21 for everyone else.
 
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since it is replaceable (Ruger P89DC)
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better act fast if you want a new one since Ruger has now discontinued the P89 :(

I bought my first handgun (besides the ones I've gotten from my parents soon after I turned 18) earlier this year in a private sale from a gun forum classifieds ad. Never met him before but you just have to use your own judgement. If they look shady then just walk away. I'm now 19 and own many handguns, all through private transfers.

I think it just boils down to what has already been said. There are those who are mature enough at 18 (or even younger) and there are older people who can't be trusted by themself.

Take it on a case by case basis and everyone will be happy.

As for a background check, like I said. You use your own judgement. No one is making you go through with the sale.
 
But I would support a law that says 18 for serving memebrs of the military, and 21 for everyone else.
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I forgot to mention in my above post, damn with that 3.2 beer we were drinking; not too much buzz but kept the latrine busy....:D
I wonder if the PX serves the real thing these days?
 
But I would support a law that says 18 for serving memebrs of the military, and 21 for everyone else.
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Military service should not be required for an adult to be a full citizen. This is America, not Soviet Russia ;)
 
novaDAK said:
Thernlund said:
But I would support a law that says 18 for serving memebrs of the military, and 21 for everyone else.
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Military service should not be required for an adult to be a full citizen. ;)
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Hmmm... if drinking alcohol makes you a citizen, then I must be a super-citizen! :D


-T.
 
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