Federal law mandates that a person must be 21 years of age to purchase a handgun from a licensed firearms dealer. Attempts to acquire a handgun before reaching this age threshold, with the intention of taking possession upon turning 21, present a complex legal scenario. For example, placing an order before one’s 21st birthday, but arranging for the transfer of the firearm to occur after that birthday, falls under scrutiny.
The age restriction is intended to reduce gun violence and prevent access to handguns by individuals deemed statistically more likely to misuse them. Historically, age limits on firearm ownership have been implemented to balance Second Amendment rights with public safety concerns. The legal ramifications of circumventing age restrictions can be severe, potentially leading to federal charges and impacting the individual’s future ability to own firearms legally.
