Gavin Howe
The legal age to purchase firearms varies depending on the type of firearm and the seller. Federal law prohibits the sale of handguns and handgun ammunition to individuals under the age of 21 by licensed dealers, while the minimum age for purchasing long guns, including assault weapons, from dealers is 18. Unlicensed sellers are not allowed to sell handguns to those under the age of 18, but there is no federal minimum age for purchasing long guns from these sellers. Many states have implemented stricter regulations, prohibiting the sale of handguns to individuals under 21 and long guns to those under 18, regardless of the seller's license status. These laws aim to reduce firearm-related incidents, suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings among young people, who are at an elevated risk of suicide and violent behavior.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer | 21 |
| Minimum age to purchase a handgun from an unlicensed dealer | 18 |
| Minimum age to purchase a long gun from a licensed dealer | 18 |
| Minimum age to purchase a long gun from an unlicensed dealer | No minimum age |
| Minimum age to purchase shotguns and rifles | 18 |
| Minimum age to purchase firearms other than shotguns and rifles | 21 |
| Minimum age to possess a handgun | 18 |
| Minimum age to possess a handgun without parental supervision | 21 |
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What You'll Learn
- Federal law prohibits handgun sales to under 21s and long guns to under 18s
- State laws may set a higher minimum age
- Firearm suicides involving minors rose 40% between 2014 and 2023
- Minimum age laws aim to reduce suicides, homicides and accidents
- A federal appeals court ruled the minimum age of 21 restricts law-abiding citizens' rights
Federal law prohibits handgun sales to under 21s and long guns to under 18s
Federal law in the United States prohibits the sale of handguns to people under the age of 21 and the sale of long guns to those under 18. This applies to licensed firearm dealers, who are barred from selling handguns to anyone under 21 and long guns to anyone under 18.
However, the law is weaker when it comes to purchases from unlicensed sellers. In these cases, the minimum age for buying a handgun is 18, and there is no minimum age for purchasing long guns. This means that, in the absence of regulation, minors can legally purchase long guns from unlicensed dealers.
Despite the federal minimum age requirements, several states have imposed stricter regulations, barring handgun sales to under 21s and long gun sales to under 18s, regardless of whether the seller is licensed or not. These states include Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The minimum age requirements for firearm sales are established by the Gun Control Act (GCA) and are binding on licensees regardless of state or local law. However, if a state or local ordinance sets a higher minimum age for firearm purchases, licensees must observe the higher age requirement.
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State laws may set a higher minimum age
Federal law in the US prohibits the sale of firearms to anyone under the age of 18. However, this minimum age requirement varies depending on the type of firearm and the context of the sale. For example, federal law permits the sale of long guns, including assault weapons, to individuals who are 18 or older. On the other hand, handguns and other firearms, as well as their corresponding ammunition, can only be sold to individuals aged 21 and above.
While federal law sets a minimum age requirement, individual state laws may impose stricter age restrictions. Many states have heeded the call for stricter gun control by raising the minimum age for purchasing firearms. This move aims to address the concerningly high rates of firearm-related suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings among young people. By increasing the minimum age, states can help protect young adults who are at an elevated risk of suicide and violent behaviours.
Washington State, for instance, passed a law setting a minimum age requirement for the purchase of assault weapons. This legislation led to a significant reduction in firearm incidents involving assault weapons and an overall decrease in firearm violence within the state. The law's positive impact extended beyond intentional violence, as it also contributed to a decline in unintentional firearm deaths among youth.
State laws that set a higher minimum age for purchasing firearms are a step towards safeguarding young people and the public at large. These stricter age requirements reflect a recognition of the elevated risks associated with gun access for teens and young adults. By raising the minimum age, states can help prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands and mitigate the harmful consequences that can arise from youthful impulsivity or mental health struggles.
While some may argue that higher minimum age requirements infringe on the Second Amendment right to gun ownership, the severity of the gun violence epidemic, particularly among young people, underscores the urgency of implementing more stringent gun control measures. The effectiveness of these measures is evident in the positive outcomes achieved in states like Washington, where stricter age restrictions have directly contributed to a decrease in firearm-related incidents and fatalities.
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Firearm suicides involving minors rose 40% between 2014 and 2023
In the United States, federal law sets a low bar for the minimum age to buy firearms. For instance, while the law requires a person to be 21 to purchase a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer, it only requires an individual to be 18 to buy a long gun, including an assault weapon, from a dealer. The law is even more relaxed for purchases from unlicensed sellers, with an 18-year minimum age for handguns and no minimum age for long guns. Many states have raised the age, barring handgun sales to people under 21 and long gun sales to those under 18. The strongest policies prevent all firearm sales to those under 21.
Firearm-related suicides and homicides among minors have been a significant concern in the US. While the overall child homicide rate involving firearms remained relatively steady between 2014 and 2023, the rate involving minors increased during this period. Specifically, for individuals aged 10-24, suicide rates increased from 2007 to 2021, while homicide rates increased from 2014 through 2021. The suicide rate for those aged 15-19 did not change significantly from 2001 to 2009 but increased by 57% from 2009 to 2017. From 2017 to 2021, this trend remained steady.
The data highlights a worrying trend in firearm-related suicides and homicides among minors, with the availability of firearms potentially contributing to the rise in suicide rates. Firearms are the leading cause of death for young people aged 18 to 20, and the easy access to firearms for this age group is a concerning factor. The minimum age requirements established by the Gun Control Act (GCA) aim to restrict access to firearms for younger individuals, but the varying state laws and looser regulations for unlicensed sellers create a complex and inconsistent legal landscape.
While the GCA prohibits the sale of shotguns, rifles, and corresponding ammunition to individuals under 18, and all other firearms and ammunition to those under 21, the impact of these regulations is diminished by the ease of acquiring firearms from unlicensed sellers and the varying state laws. This situation underscores the need for more stringent and uniform firearm laws to protect minors from the devastating consequences of firearm-related suicides and homicides.
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Minimum age laws aim to reduce suicides, homicides and accidents
In the United States, federal law sets a low minimum age for buying firearms. While the law requires a person to be 21 to purchase a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer, it only requires a person to be 18 to buy a long gun, including an assault weapon, from a dealer. The law is even weaker for purchases from unlicensed sellers, with an 18-year-old minimum age for handguns and no minimum age for long guns. Many states have raised the age, barring handgun sales to people under 21 and long gun sales to people under 18.
Firearm suicides, homicides, and accidents are a significant problem in the United States, particularly among young people. Firearms are the leading cause of death for young people ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased by 31% in the last decade. Overall, the rate of gun suicides in the US has been increasing, with the rate rising from 6.0 to 7.7 gun suicides per 100,000 people from 1999 to 2022. Nearly six in 10 gun deaths in the United States are suicides, and the rate of firearm suicides is at an all-time high.
Minimum age laws aim to reduce suicides, homicides, and accidents by restricting access to firearms among young people. Research has confirmed that a combination of several risk factors is often present in the lead-up to suicide, including current life stressors, historical risk factors, and access to lethal means of harm such as firearms. Removing access to firearms is one of the easiest and quickest ways to intervene and prevent suicides.
Studies have found that increasing the minimum age of possession or purchase for a firearm above the federal limit may help prevent firearm suicides among youth and young adults. However, the evidence mainly focuses on narrow age ranges, such as ages 18 to 20, and there is sparse data to support this. A study of firearm suicide deaths across five states found that among decedents ages 21 and older, 84% used their own firearm, while for decedents under age 20, less than half used their own firearm. This suggests that restricting access to firearms for younger individuals may help reduce suicide rates in this age group.
Firearm homicides and violent crimes also disproportionately involve individuals under age 21, and laws targeting this age group may have a significant impact on crime and interpersonal violence. However, the effects of raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm will depend on how easily youth can acquire firearms through informal or non-retail sources. Surveys have found that over 80% of incarcerated or arrested juveniles acquired their firearms from a friend, family member, or the black market.
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A federal appeals court ruled the minimum age of 21 restricts law-abiding citizens' rights
In the United States, federal law sets the minimum age for buying firearms. For handguns, the minimum age is 21, while for long guns, including assault weapons, the minimum age is 18. However, this has been a highly debated topic, with some states raising the minimum age to 21 for all firearm purchases.
The debate surrounding the minimum age for firearm purchases has been a contentious issue. In July 2021, a federal appeals court ruled that the longstanding federal ban on handgun sales to individuals between the ages of 18 and 20 was unconstitutional. The court found that Congress, when enacting the law in the 1960s, did not provide a sufficient justification for restricting the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for this age group. The court argued that the right to bear arms should be treated similarly to other constitutional rights, such as the right to vote, which also begins at age 18.
The court's decision was based on the idea that the law disproportionately restricted the rights of law-abiding citizens in that age group. The majority opinion stated that a small fraction of that age group commits a disproportionate amount of violent crime, and the law should focus on preventing those individuals from accessing firearms rather than restricting the entire age group. Additionally, the court noted the irony that 18- to 20-year-olds are trusted with sophisticated weaponry in the armed forces but are prevented from purchasing handguns for self-protection.
The ruling by the federal appeals court highlights the ongoing debate over the appropriate balance between public safety and the constitutional right to bear arms. While the court found the minimum age restriction to be unconstitutional, the decision also acknowledged the importance of reducing crime and violence. The court's ruling struck down the federal ban on handgun sales to 18- to 20-year-olds, leaving it up to individual states to determine their minimum age requirements for firearm purchases.
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Frequently asked questions
The minimum age to purchase firearms in the US is 18 years for shotguns, rifles, and long guns, and 21 years for handguns.
No, licensed dealers may not sell handguns to anyone under the age of 21.
Yes, an 18-year-old may acquire a handgun from an unlicensed individual residing in the same state, provided they are not prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
Yes, many states have raised the minimum age for purchasing firearms. Some states bar the sale of handguns to anyone under 21 and long guns to anyone under 18, regardless of the seller's license status.
