Set me straight on legal handgun age...

[bbaerst]

I've always thought that Federal Law dictated that the minimum age for someone to buy a handgun in their own name (maybe it's different if say a father bought a pistol and gave it to his son) was 21, but I've seen it referenced here a few times, or maybe just when doing political research, that people are lobbying to "increase" the handgun minimum age up to 21...

I'm in Massachusetts, maybe I'm just confused because we have a different state law regarding handguns? I'm not talking about CHL or anything, just owning.

 

[Greg L]

I'm sure that others will be along shortly to correct me .

Fed law to buy a handgun is 21 nationwide IIRC.

State law on ownership can vary (person is given a handgun as a gift by someone who is able to purchase one) depending on the state. In many it is 21, in others it is 18, & there may be one or two where it is 16.

That said, my 12 year old "owns" his own pistol right now. He knows that it is his & that when he moves out (in 6 or more years ) that it will be his to take with him. Until that time though it resides with all my pistols in the safe that he doesn't have access to. Perhaps by that distant date the darkness with have caused it to breed & reproduce some more .

 

[lwsimon]

According to Fed. law, its 21 to purchase a handgun from a FFL. Its 18 to own a handgun. For long guns, its 18 to purchase from an FFL, no minimum for ownership. IANAL, this is simply my interpretation of the law, which I have read.

 

[ZeroX]

Anyone want to exchange gifts? A CZ-75 for some delightful cash?

 

[joab]

As I understand it, according to fed law
You can own a handgun at 18 but you can't buy it until you're 21.
Now if you can figure out that wisdom you're a born politician

 

[N3rday]

Due to the GCA of 1968 it is illegal for someone under 21 to purchase a handgun FROM AN FFL (keywords).

You only have to be 18 to own and there is no (federal) law prohibiting the private transfers of handguns to people ages 18 and up. Which basically means you can pick up a handgun from a gunshow when you are 18 but you have to be 21 to purchase from a reputable gun shop. Pretty stupid, eh?

 

[zahc]

I'm pretty sure in Ohio someone under 21 cannot even posess a handgun, someone please tell me I'm wrong because if so I'm going out right now to buy a 1911. It really sucks to have a full time job, apt of your own, be in a long term relationship and not be able to own a simple handgun.

 

[bbaerst]

According to Fed. law, its 21 to purchase a handgun from a FFL. Its 18 to own a handgun. For long guns, its 18 to purchase from an FFL, no minimum for ownership. IANAL, this is simply my interpretation of the law, which I have read.

Only to purchase from an FFL? What about private sellers who sell in person or at a gunshow?

I would think the 21 age limitation on purchase would apply to any kind of purchase, not just FFL dealers.

EDIT: Whoops, beaten to the punch. I'll have to check up on MA state law on "ownership" as opposed to "purchase" ages I guess. Hey, you don't have to be a certain age to go to a gunshow and handle/look at weapons, do you?

 

[psyopspec]

I would think the 21 age limitation on purchase would apply to any kind of purchase, not just FFL dealers.

Incorrect, fed.gov law is 18 to own, 21 to buy from an FFL. By the age of 21 I'd already collected 5 handguns, all of which were bought or traded at gun shows or from classified ads in my local paper. All legal.

As a sidenote, I stupidly waited until I was 21 to purchase my first "assault weapon" from an ffl because I was under the impression that a higher age limit applied to those, and I wanted one new in the box.

 

[buy guns]

i am 19 and own a handgun.

 

[HankB]

I got my first real handgun as an 8th grade graduation present. I bought my first handgun - a Colt National Match .45 - shortly afterwards at age 14 . . . though my Dad had to fill out some papers.

Initially, they were displayed proudly in a wall-mounted cabinet my father had made. My mother - bless her heart - decided that I shouldn't have them in my room like that. So they ended up residing in the lower drawer of my dresser, next to my bed.

Funny . . . even though I had some tough times in high school, it never occured to me to take them to class and do something bad . . .

 

[SLCDave]

Funny . . . even though I had some tough times in high school, it never occured to me to take them to class and do something bad . . .

Probably because you were raised right.

 

[kel]

You can't own or posess in a handgun of any capacity until your are 21 and you can't own or possess a handgun without a LTC class B or A.
You can own a low capacity long gun after the age of 18 after you get a FOID, a safety course is required for all of them.

 

[psyopspec]

You can't own or posess in a handgun of any capacity until your are 21 and you can't own or possess a handgun without a LTC class B or A.

If you're referencing the origional query to federal law, you're incorrect.

Or is this some gestapo posturing of Illinois state law?

 

[bbaerst]

If you're referencing the origional query to federal law, you're incorrect.

Or is this some gestapo posturing of Illinois state law?

I think those are the Massachusetts State Laws.

 

[mack69]

Re:

In Illinois you can not transfer any firearm to any individual who does not hold a current FOID (Firearm Owners ID) card. You can not get a FOID card until you are 21 unless you have a written aproval from a parental unit.