Gun restrictions upheld

[peyton]

I read this court case article this morning and in discusssing it with my coworkers none of us really understood it. I understand an 18 year old can have and use a handgun, but they can not buy one from a FFL. Someone explain this case to me please.

Gun restrictions upheld for 18- to 20-year-olds - San Antonio Express-News

[J.Wal]

I have never heard of it being legal for a person under the age of 21 to have a handgun, no matter how they got it.


J.Wal

[Lenny_D]

So let me get this straight. The law disallows 18-20 years olds from buying a gun from an FFL dealer yet 19% of murders and 24% of robberies are perpetrated by this age group which comprises only 4.3% of the population.
I would conclude that the law does not seem to be working! Just one more example of nonlogical reasoning in Texas no less! I hope the NRA pursues this to the Supreme Court.
Len

[JcMack]

Same law here. 18 year olds are allowed to vote, in my opinion far more dangerous. The only 18-20 year olds allowed to buy a handgun or vote should be limited to veterans. Anyone 18-20 that needs a handgun for your occupation or use on your property or hunting would be the exception.

[smithnframe]

I bought my first centerfire handgun when I was 18 back in 1976.

[Arik]

Gotta be 21 to buy and own a handgun. There might be some special circumstances where a 18-20 yr old can technically own a handgun but probably not many. Something like if the father dies and the kid is say 20 and has no other living or close relatives there might be a way he can own his father's guns. Or maybe if the family lives in a very remote place in Alaska, far up north. Maybe homesteaders. While the kid cannot have a gun the local authorities might look the other way because in that area one has to be self reliant and often venture out into the wilderness by himself.

As for the kid who lives in a bad area he should get himself a 12 gauge

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[squidsix]

18 year olds indeed MAY own a handgun. In many states they may not BUY handgun ammunition, and they may not buy a handgun from an FFL.
B14) May a parent or guardian purchase firearms or ammunition as a gift for a juvenile (less than 18 years of age)? [Back]

Yes. However, possession of handguns by juveniles (less than 18 years of age) is generally unlawful. Juveniles generally may only receive and possess handguns with the written permission of a parent or guardian for limited purposes, e.g., employment, ranching, farming, target practice or hunting.

[18 U.S.C. 922(x)]

[venomballistics]

Originally Posted by peyton

I read this court case article this morning and in discusssing it with my coworkers none of us really understood it. I understand an 18 year old can have and use a handgun, but they can not buy one from a FFL. Someone explain this case to me please.

Gun restrictions upheld for 18- to 20-year-olds - San Antonio Express-News

I only gave it a quick look. This article seems to avoid the legal facts as best it can. it would be best to search out the law itself.

[rcpaul]

In Pennsylvania an 18 year old may buy a hand gun but not from Ffl they would need to go to sheriff office to do transfer

[bloo]

In Wisconsin for CCW permit you must be 21, have training course, pass a background check. For open carry all you need to do is be 18. Can't buy a handgun or handgun ammo but ok to carry a loaded one. Figure the reasoning behind that! But then at 17 Uncle Sam gave me a loaded 1911 and trained me to use it. Nuff to make your head hurt. Came home on leave at 20 and couldn't buy a beer!

Ted

[geoff40]

Unless you live in a State that has draconian gun laws, a parent may gift a handgun to an 18 year old child.

[kraigwy]

What is stupid is an 18-20 year old can be sent to war using multi million weapon systems but when these vets come home, they can't buy a hand gun.

How stupid is that?

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Originally Posted by Arik

Gotta be 21 to buy and own a handgun. There might be some special circumstances where a 18-20 yr old can technically own a handgun but probably not many. Something like if the father dies and the kid is say 20 and has no other living or close relatives there might be a way he can own his father's guns. Or maybe if the family lives in a very remote place in Alaska, far up north. Maybe homesteaders. While the kid cannot have a gun the local authorities might look the other way because in that area one has to be self reliant and often venture out into the wilderness by himself.

Arik,

If I understand correctly, you are trying to connect logical practical thinking with actual statutes. Generally speaking, this is an error, although I'm pretty sure that there are some exceptions that a lawyer could explain. Particularly regarding gun laws, it is far more helpful to read the law than to speculate about what might make sense.

If you knew the history of gun laws in this country, the above would be even more obvious.

[peyton]

Thanks for all the responses.

[armadillo]

Texas law allows 18 year olds to purchase, own and possess handguns - but they cannot get a Concealed Handgun license until 21 (except honorably discharged and active duty military 18 or older).

Federal law prohibits FFL dealers selling handguns or ammunition to anyone under 21.

[627 city hunter]

TX rules!!!

[k22fan]

I only heard 30 second radio news announcements of the appeals court case. All of them were from sources generally hostile to gun ownership. I understood the court has ruled that the 2nd amendment does not prohibit states from disallowing handgun ownership under the age of 21.
That changes nothing here in Washington. We have state preemption of gun laws so lower levels of government cannot make the rules more restrictive within their jurisdiction. Washington law specifically writes a person aged 18 through 20 may own handguns, may carry them loaded at their place of business, in their homes, hunting, at shooting ranges and lawful plinking places. (I forget the wording for “plinking places”. Also the law says they may transport unloaded handguns traveling between those places. The law also spells out supervision requirements for juveniles. The minimum age to get a concealed pistol license is 21. No law here prohibits non-FFLs from selling handguns to 18 year olds. You can verify this through Access Washington - Welcome to the State of Washington searching RCWs section 9.4. I don’t have time now or I’d post direct links.
All that is consistent with how my shooting hobby progressed. I bought my first handgun at 18, a model 39. In short order I wound up hanging out with middle aged men and old geezers at the local range casting bullets and reloading. The worst thing it all led to was hunting.

[Fishinfool]

Federal law prevents sales of handguns to persons under 21, not possession. Back in 1977, when I was 18, I obtained a CT. state pistol permit, even though I could not legally buy a handgun until 21. Mom spent a lot of time in gun shops with me.

The CT. age for carry permit issue has since risen to 21.

Larry

[Smith357]

Originally Posted by kraigwy

What is stupid is an 18-20 year old can be sent to war using multi million weapon systems but when these vets come home, they can't buy a hand gun.

How stupid is that?

It's the same stupidity that states you can own property, pay taxes, vote, and die for your country but you can't have a beer.

[CBA44]

Originally Posted by armadillo

Texas law allows 18 year olds to purchase, own and possess handguns - but they cannot get a Concealed Handgun license until 21 (except honorably discharged and active duty military 18 or older).

Federal law prohibits FFL dealers selling handguns or ammunition to anyone under 21.

And CT allows you to have your "permit to carry pistols and revolvers" at 18, but you cannot purchase one until you are 21. least that is how it was 25 years ago, and I believe it still is.
You can carry one ta 18, but can't buy one till 21? Go figure.

[22shtur]

[QUOTE=
Federal law prohibits FFL dealers selling handguns or ammunition to anyone under 21.[/QUOTE]

I beleive Federal Law prohibits dealers from only selling pistol ammunition to anyone under 21. Rifle ammo can be purchased by 18 year olds.

[VTXS]

Originally Posted by kraigwy

What is stupid is an 18-20 year old can be sent to war using multi million weapon systems but when these vets come home, they can't buy a hand gun.

How stupid is that?

I remember my Dad saying saying that exact same thing over 30 years ago when I came home on leave for the first time. Guess things haven't changed much since then.

[Steve in Vermont]

Originally Posted by VTXS

I remember my Dad saying saying that exact same thing over 30 years ago when I came home on leave for the first time. Guess things haven't changed much since then.

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This goes for the 18 year old issue. At 18 someone is considered mature enough to get married, sign a legal contract, enter the military, drive a car, fly an airplane, and vote. But, they are not mature enough when it comes to alcohol, cigarettes, or guns. I'm old enough to remember when 21 was the age of consent. Now it's 18, or 21 depending............go figure.

[GKC]

There is a saying: "The law may upset reason, but reason may not upset the law."

It's another way of saying, if you are looking for laws to make sense, you are barking up the wrong tree.