It is important to distinguish between buying and possessing. Federal law generally prohibits anyone under from possessing a handgun (with exceptions for ranching, hunting, or military service), but it does not set a minimum age for the possession of long guns. International Snapshot Outside the U.S., legal ages vary significantly: Minimum Age - Giffords.org
: States like California , Colorado , Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont generally require a buyer to be 21 for both handguns and long guns. legal age to buy a gun
: Some states, such as Minnesota, require a permit to purchase handguns or "military-style assault weapons," which are typically only issued to those 21 or older. Ownership vs. Purchase It is important to distinguish between buying and possessing
: You must be at least 18 years old to purchase a long gun or long gun ammunition from an FFL dealer. : Some states, such as Minnesota, require a
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) , these are the federal minimum ages:
: Federal law permits unlicensed (private) sellers to transfer handguns to individuals at least 18 years old , and there is no federal minimum age for the private transfer of long guns. State-Specific Variations