Five Facts About Buying Guns in the United States
Since the horrific shooting earlier this month at Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the nation has been engaged in a passionate debate about gun laws. Last week, President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) voiced support for raising the minimum age of purchasing rifles to 21.
Today, it is possible for someone of any age to buy a long gun (rifles or shotguns) in an unlicensed sale. The semiautomatic AR-15 used in the Parkland shooting is considered a “long gun.” According to the Washington Post, other Republicans, including Sens. Marco Rubio (FL), Pat Roberts (KS), and Rep. John Faso (NY) have also called for raising the purchase age of these firearms.
Here are five facts you need to know about purchasing firearms in the United States.
1. Today, there is no federal law restricting the sale of “long guns” based on one’s age, except for licensed dealers. According to the law, licensed dealers may not sell or deliver a long gun (or ammunition for one) to any person the dealer knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under 18. However, unlicensed persons may sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer a long gun (or ammunition) to a person of any age.
2. Throughout the country, states vary greatly on how they regulate rifle and shotgun ownership by age. For example, some states, including Alabama, Kentucky, and North Dakota, have no additional laws imposing minimum age requirements for purchasing or owning firearms. Other states put age restrictions on possession, no matter how the weapon is acquired. In Illinois, one has to be at least 21 to possess a long gun. In Alaska, without parental consent, one must be 16 or older. And in Minnesota, while the legal age is 16, it is 14 if the purchaser has a firearms safety certificate.
3. Some states have enacted laws to prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from possessing a handgun. These include Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington (along with Washington, D.C.).
4. Some cities have enacted even stricter gun ownership laws. In New York City, for instance, no one under 21 may be granted a permit or license to purchase, possess, or carry any firearm, with limited exceptions. It is also illegal to transfer a firearm to any person under 21 unless he or she is exempted.
5. A 2017 Pew Research Center study showed that roughly four in 10 adults (42 percent) have a gun in their household, while three in 10 say they personally own a gun. The study also showed that three-quarters of gun owners said they first fired a gun before they were 18.
No Labels is an organization of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working to bring American leaders together to solve problems.
