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

States can raise these minimum ages but cannot lower them below the federal standard. As of 2026, several states have stricter rules: legal age to buy a gun

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 : Some states, such as Minnesota, require a

: 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. As of 2026, several states have stricter rules:

: Washington and Massachusetts require buyers to be 21 for semiautomatic rifles, while allowing 18-year-olds to purchase other long guns.