State Minimum Age to Purchase or Possess Guns

Alabama law prohibits any person from selling, giving or lending a handgun to any person under age 18.¹ Alabama law also prohibits the delivery of a handgun to any person under the age of 18.²

Federal age restrictions impose stricter limits.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Ala. Code § 13A-11-57. See also Ala. Code § 13A-11-76 (defining minor as a person under age 18). [↩]
2. Ala. Code § 13A-11-76. However, Ala. Code § 13A-11-76 does not apply to the sale of handguns as curiosities or ornaments. Ala. Code § 13A-11-83. [↩]

Alaska prohibits any unemancipated minor under age 16 from possessing a firearm without the consent of his or her parent or guardian.¹

Alaska also prohibits any person from knowingly selling a firearm to anyone under age 18.²

Federal age restrictions impose stricter limits.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Alaska Stat. § 11.61.220(a)(3). [↩]
2. Alaska Stat. § 11.61.210(a)(6). [↩]

Arizona prohibits any person from selling or giving a firearm or ammunition or a toy pistol from which dangerous and explosive substances may be discharged to a person under age 18 without written consent of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.¹

Arizona law prohibits an unemancipated person under age 18 from knowingly carrying or possessing a firearm on his person, within his immediate control, or in or on a means of transportation, in any place that is open to the public or on any street or highway or on any private property (except private property owned or leased by the minor or the minor’s parent, grandparent or guardian). This prohibition does not apply if the minor is accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or guardian, or a certified hunter safety instructor or certified firearms safety instructor acting with the consent of the unemancipated person’s parent or guardian.²

Arizona places no additional restrictions on the purchase or possession of handguns, although federal age restrictions still apply.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Policy Summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A). Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 1-215(22) defines “minor” as a person under 18. The prohibition under Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(A) does not apply to the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by firearms safety instructors, hunter safety instructors, or competition coaches or their assistants, if the minor’s parent or guardian has given consent for the minor to participate in activities such as firearms or hunting safety courses, firearms competition, or training. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3109(C). With the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, the temporary transfer of firearms and ammunition by an adult accompanying minors engaged in hunting or formal or informal target shooting activities is allowed for those purposes. [↩]
2. Ariz. Rev. Stat.§ 13-3111(A). This prohibition also does not apply to a person who is 14 to 17 years of age and who is:
   • Engaged in lawful hunting or shooting events or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited;
   • Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm for the purpose of lawful hunting;
   • Engaged in lawful transportation of an unloaded firearm between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for the purpose of a shooting event or marksmanship practice at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited; or
   • Engaged in an activity requiring the use of a firearm that is related to the production of crops, livestock, poultry, livestock products, poultry products, or ratites or in the production or storage of agricultural commodities. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3111(B). [↩]

With some exceptions, Arkansas prohibits any person under age 18 from possessing a handgun.¹

In Arkansas, any person furnishing a firearm to a minor under 18 years of age without the consent of a parent, guardian, or other person responsible for general supervision of the minor’s welfare, is criminally liable for a Class A misdemeanor.² The crime becomes a Class B felony if the firearm is a handgun or other specified firearm.³

There is no minimum age to possess rifles and shotguns in Arkansas. Federal age restrictions impose stricter limits.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-73-119(a)(1), (e). [↩]
2. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-73-101(9), 5-73-109(a). [↩]
3. Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-109(b). [↩]

Minimum age for sales and transfers: California prohibits any person, corporation or firm from selling a handgun to anyone under age 21, and from selling, loaning, or transferring any firearm to a “minor.”¹ While California law does not define the term “minor”, this term appears to mean persons under age 18 when read in context with other laws.²

Minimum age for possession: California law prohibits minors from possessing a handgun.³ Exceptions to this prohibition include situations where a parent or legal guardian is present or has consented to the possession.⁴ In addition, minors may possess handguns when engaged in certain recreational sports, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting; agricultural, ranching, or hunting activities; and any motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical events, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.⁵

There is no minimum age to possess rifles and shotguns in California, although federal age restrictions still apply.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

For age restrictions governing ammunition, see the Ammunition Regulation in California section.

For other provisions related to children and firearms, see the Child Access Prevention in California section.

1. Cal. Penal Code § 27505(a), (b). [↩]
2. See e.g., Cal. Penal Code §§ 30300 (ammunition may not be sold to any purchaser under age 18), 31625 (a person must be at least age 18 to obtain a Handgun Safety Certificate). [↩]
3. Cal. Penal Code § 29610. [↩]
4. Cal. Penal Code § 29615. [↩]
5. Id. [↩]

In Colorado, any person under age 18 may not knowingly possess a handgun, except:

• When in attendance at a hunter’s or firearms safety course;
• During lawful firearm or target shooting;
• During certain organized competitions or performances;
• When hunting or trapping with a valid state license;
• When traveling to or from such activities as previously noted;
• When on property under the control of the person’s parent, legal guardian or grandparent with the permission of such person’s parent, legal guardian or grandparent; or
• When at the person’s residence, with the permission of the person’s parent or legal guardian, for the purpose of lawful self-defense.¹

Colorado does not provide a minimum age to possess rifles or shotguns. Colorado also provides no minimum age for the purchase of a handgun or a long gun, although federal age restrictions still apply.

For additional age-related restrictions, see the Colorado Child Access Prevention section.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108.5(1), (2). [↩]

A person must be at least 21 years old to obtain an eligibility certificate for a handgun.¹

Connecticut prohibits any person from selling, lending, giving, delivering or otherwise transferring any handgun to a person under age 21.² A handgun may be transferred temporarily to a person under age 21 for target shooting or use on a shooting range if under the immediate supervision of a person eligible to possess a handgun.³

There is no minimum age to possess a long gun. A “junior firearms hunting license” may be issued to a child between 12 and 16 years of age.⁴

Connecticut also prohibits any person from transferring, selling or giving a machine gun to a person under age 16, including the temporary transfer of a machine gun to such person for use in target shooting or on a firing or shooting range or for “any other purpose.”⁵

Federal law imposes additional limits.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36f. [↩]
2. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-34(b). [↩]
3. Id. [↩]
4. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 26-27a(1). [↩]
5. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202(c). [↩]

Delaware prohibits the purchase, ownership or possession of a handgun by a “juvenile” except for the purposes of engaging in lawful hunting, instruction, sporting or recreational activity while under the direct or indirect supervision of an adult.¹ There is no minimum age to possess long guns under Delaware or federal law.

Delaware law prohibits the sale of a handgun or other deadly weapon “made especially for the defense of one’s person” to a person under age 21.² Delaware also prohibits the sale or transfer of any firearm or ammunition to a person under age 18 unless the transferor is the minor’s parent or guardian or a person who first receives permission from the minor’s parent or guardian.³

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 1448(a)(5). The term “juvenile” is not defined under Delaware law, although state law notes that any person who attains age 18 is deemed to be of full legal age for “all purposes whatsoever.” Del. Code Ann. tit. 1, § 701. [↩]
2. Del. Code Ann. tit. 24, §§ 901, 903. [↩]
3. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 1445(4). [↩]

Generally, no person under age 21 may obtain a registration certificate, which prevents such individuals from lawfully possessing a firearm (see the District of Columbia Background Checks section and the section entitled District of Columbia Prohibited Purchasers Generally for further information).¹ The Chief of Police may, however, issue a registration certificate to an applicant between the ages of 18 and 21 years old, who is otherwise qualified, if the application is accompanied by a notarized statement of the applicant’s parent or guardian verifying that:

• The applicant has the permission of his or her parent or guardian to own and use the firearm to be registered; and
• The parent or guardian assumes civil liability for all damages resulting from the actions of the applicant in the use of the firearm to be registered.²

District regulations prohibit the possession of any firearm by a person under age 18.³

The District generally prohibits the sale of any handgun to a purchaser under age 21.⁴ Moreover, any person who knowingly or intentionally transfers a firearm or ammunition to a person under age 18 is criminally liable for a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.⁵

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

1. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(1). [↩]
2. Id. Such registration certificate expires on the person’s 21st birthday. [↩]
3. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2301.1. [↩]
4. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4507. [↩]
5. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(1). See also D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2302.1, 2302.3 (generally prohibiting the transfer of any firearm or ammunition to a person under age 18). [↩]

Florida generally prohibits a person under age 18 from possessing a firearm. However, this prohibition does not apply to unloaded firearms in the minor’s home. It also does not apply if the minor is:

• Engaged in a lawful hunting activity and is at least age 16 or, if under age 16, is supervised by an adult;

• Engaged in a lawful marksmanship competition or practice or other lawful recreational shooting activity, and is at least age 16 or, if under age 16, is supervised by an adult who is acting with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian; or

• Transporting an unloaded firearm directly to or from one of the aforementioned events.

Florida law penalizes any parent or guardian, or other adult responsible for the welfare of a minor, who knowingly and willfully permits the minor to possess a firearm in violation these provisions. Florida also prohibits any dealer from selling or transferring any firearm to a minor under age 18. In addition, Florida law penalizes any person who knowingly or willfully sells or transfers a firearm to a minor without the permission of the minor’s parent or guardian. Note that federal age restrictions also apply, and generally prohibit licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to persons under age 21. For other child safety measures, see the Florida Child Access Prevention section.

See our Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.