Question about legality of handgun b/t age 18 and 21

[The Undertoad]

OK, here goes:

I'm in Virginia. A friend wants to buy 3 handguns from a family friend of his. They belonged to the woman's now deceased husband, and have bad memories associated with them. Unfortunately, said friend is only 19. He already owns long guns, is in ROTC, and is a responsible kid. I told him I was almost positive it was against federal law for him to purchase them private party from her because of his age, although VA State law only specifies that it is illegal to provide those under 18 with handguns. Also, VA law means one per month, which would make this a drawn out and tedious process... He does not want to do anything illegal.

He initially asked me to buy them to "hold on" to for him, but I was wary of making what could be a straw purchase, I would rather err on the side of caution! Especially as I will start applying to LEO dept's soon!

Am I correct? As I see things, the only LEGAL way for him to acquire these weapons (besides waiting!) would be for his father to purchase them in a private transaction and then give them to him as gifts. And I mean as genuine gifts, not as a "hey Dad I love you here is $400!" "Hey son I love you too, here's the gun I bought from your friend's mom!" type of thing.

Any advice? I know this is the right place to ask...

 

[GigaBuist]

As long as VA law does not prohibit ownership of a pistol by somebody under 21 there is no federal statute in his way.

It is 100% perfectly legal, at the federal level, for somebody to purchase a pistol from a PRIVATE dealer.

I grew up with a kid that's a pefect "Boy Scout" that owned handguns before 21 -- just a .22 target pistol for competition, but the bugger wouldn't knowingly break a law. I'm sure of that. Especially not a firearms law.

I, personally, I have "sold" a firearm to somebody under the age of 21. By "sold" I transfered it to him legally for the sum of $0 so he could train with it and get his CCW before he got shipped to Kuwait. The permit (we require them in Michigan) was issued to him before he was 21 by a few days. A couple days later I got out to his place to drop it off and do the paperwork. Didn't even know he was 21 at the time until I offered to buy him practice ammo and he said that wasn't necessary.

 

[The Undertoad]

That sounds promising...thanks for the heads up. Yes, as far as I know, VA state law only prohibits providing handguns to those under 18. So I guess the federal law about being 21 applies only to FFLs?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

This needs to be a float or something...

Is is illegal for a FFL holder to sell a handgun to someone under 21. It IS legal under federal law to sell a handgun to an 18-20 year old in a private transaction. Unless your state has some state law preventing the sale of handguns in a private transaction to 18-20 year olds (not many, if any, states do) you are perfectly legal. The prohibition is only on purchasing from an FFL, not possessing or buying from a private party.

 

[clubsoda22]

I'm 19 in PA and purchaced 3 handguns before my most recent birthday.

 

[Steve in PA]

But the part you didn't tell him is that they were purchased through someone over 21. You did not walk into the store, plop down the money and your ID and walk out the store with them.