Minimum age to own a rifle under federal law?
- Thread starter femoralis
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
No. That is handled under your state laws.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Yes for handguns. No such rule for rifles. Check your state laws.
Skylerbone
Member
These may be out of date so as Sam stated, check with your State: http://smartgunlaws.org/category/state-minimum-age-purchase-possess-guns/
MtnCreek
Member
I’m sure it can vary by State, but technically a minor doesn’t own anything.
Skylerbone
Member
Anything earned (money), purchased with that money or given as a gift to a minor is legally owned by that minor. Its use may be restricted by parental authority to age 18 but we've seen this played out in court (think child stars with divorcing parents). Firearms however are a whole other matter, with lawyers who specialize in setting up trusts etc. That advice would be well sought if this is the nature of the question.
MasterSergeantA
Member
I thought federal law required you to be 21 to take possession of a handgun and age 18 for a long gun. Is that only to purchase?
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
From an FFL dealer, yes.
theautobahn
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I'm not sure if it's been stated enough in this thread yet; CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS FIRST, but some states allow private sale of handguns to anyone who is 18.
MasterSergeantA
Member
Stated and restated. But the original question did not ask about state laws. It asked about federal. And if the federal law is silent on the subject, it is left to the state. I'll need to see what the law is here in Arizona.
Skylerbone
Member
Federal law: http://smartgunlaws.org/federal-law-on-minimum-age-to-purchase-possess/
Arizona law:
Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess in Arizona
Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Arizona prohibits any person from selling or giving a firearm or ammunition or a toy pistol from which dangerous and explosive substances may be discharged to a person under age 18 without written consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.1
Arizona law prohibits an unemancipated person under age 18 from knowingly carrying or possessing a firearm on his person, within his immediate control, or in or on a means of transportation, in any place that is open to the public or on any street or highway or on any private property (except private property owned or leased by the minor or the minor’s parent, grandparent or guardian). This prohibition does not apply if the minor is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian, or a certified hunter safety instructor or certified firearms safety instructor acting with the consent of the unemancipated person’s parent or guardian.2
Arizona places no additional restrictions on the purchase or possession of handguns, although federal age restrictions still apply.
See our Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Policy Summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A). Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 1-215(22) defines “minor” as a person under 18. The prohibition under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A) does not apply to the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by firearms safety instructors, hunter safety instructors, or competition coaches or their assistants, if the minor’s parent or guardian has given consent for the minor to participate in activities such as firearms or hunting safety courses, firearms competition, or training. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(C). With the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by an adult accompanying minors engaged in hunting or formal or informal target shooting activities is allowed for those purposes. [↩]
Ariz. Rev. Stat.§ 13-3111(A). This prohibition also does not apply to a person who is 14 to 17 years of age and who is:
Engaged in lawful hunting or shooting events or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited;
Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm for the purpose of lawful hunting;
Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for the purpose of a shooting event or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited; or
Engaged in an activity requiring the use of a firearm that is related to the production of crops, livestock, poultry, livestock products, poultry products, or ratites or in the production or storage of agricultural commodities. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3111(B). [↩]
Arizona law:
Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess in Arizona
Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Arizona prohibits any person from selling or giving a firearm or ammunition or a toy pistol from which dangerous and explosive substances may be discharged to a person under age 18 without written consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.1
Arizona law prohibits an unemancipated person under age 18 from knowingly carrying or possessing a firearm on his person, within his immediate control, or in or on a means of transportation, in any place that is open to the public or on any street or highway or on any private property (except private property owned or leased by the minor or the minor’s parent, grandparent or guardian). This prohibition does not apply if the minor is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian, or a certified hunter safety instructor or certified firearms safety instructor acting with the consent of the unemancipated person’s parent or guardian.2
Arizona places no additional restrictions on the purchase or possession of handguns, although federal age restrictions still apply.
See our Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Policy Summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A). Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 1-215(22) defines “minor” as a person under 18. The prohibition under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A) does not apply to the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by firearms safety instructors, hunter safety instructors, or competition coaches or their assistants, if the minor’s parent or guardian has given consent for the minor to participate in activities such as firearms or hunting safety courses, firearms competition, or training. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(C). With the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by an adult accompanying minors engaged in hunting or formal or informal target shooting activities is allowed for those purposes. [↩]
Ariz. Rev. Stat.§ 13-3111(A). This prohibition also does not apply to a person who is 14 to 17 years of age and who is:
Engaged in lawful hunting or shooting events or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited;
Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm for the purpose of lawful hunting;
Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for the purpose of a shooting event or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited; or
Engaged in an activity requiring the use of a firearm that is related to the production of crops, livestock, poultry, livestock products, poultry products, or ratites or in the production or storage of agricultural commodities. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3111(B). [↩]
Sav .250
Member
Kids of all ages own weapons. Thru gifting,hand me downs, what ever. They just need an "elder" ( age appropriate) when their out and about with it.
Owning and or buying are are not the same. Just wanted to throw that in.
Owning and or buying are are not the same. Just wanted to throw that in.
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Skylerbone
Member
Yes but a "kid" in Colorado who currently owns an AR and its associated magazines will be able to keep them if the proposed bans/restrictions become law. If another "kid" were waiting to inherit such items he might well be out of luck. There are important distinctions to take note of.
Bourbon n Cigars
Member
At the risk of pouring gas on fire, taking possession of and having legal ownership of a firearm are two entirely different things. I can give a minor anything I want to anyone I wish, such as my grands, kids or what-have-you; but to take legal possession of a firearm you have to be legally liable which means you have to be an adult or at very least emancipated. I had possession of a 30-30, .357 and a 10-22 at twelve years old and used them often, but wasn't the LEGAL owner of squat until I became of legal age.
Skylerbone
Member
If I might beg to differ, from the Federal law:
Licensed dealers are still subject to Federal restrictions in regard to sales but States have the final say as to the age at which one may legally "own" the firearm.
Licensed dealers are still subject to Federal restrictions in regard to sales but States have the final say as to the age at which one may legally "own" the firearm.
MasterSargeant, no such law exists. It is illegal under federal law for a DEALER to sell a handgun to an individual under 21. However, depending on state law, you can possess and handgun and even carry concealed at age 18 in some areas. In fact, i was issued my first ccw permit while still in high school, as SD allows one to obtain such a permit at age 18.
razorback2003
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- Aug 24, 2008
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- 1,231
There is no federal minimum age for possessing a long gun. In TN a 12 year old can possess one or own one. There is a minimum age here for handgun ownership and that is 18. An 18 year old can buy a handgun from a private seller.
when i graduated high school i had a buddy go right into the local PD, he had to get his mom to buy him his duty gun.
MasterSergeantA
Member
Thank you. Saved me a bunch of time.
MasterSergeantA
Member
And thanks for that as well. Fine point of law, perhaps. But aren't they all?
Guy asked a simple question and got a simple answer.
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