Legal Question from an 18 year old

benjibach · 11-13-2007, 09:04 AM

Hello! I've been doing reseach on gun laws, and have not been able to find any reliable answers... maybe someone here could help me out?

I live in Tennessee, am an 18 year old male, and thoroughly enjoy going to the local gun range to go shooting. My dad recently purchased a Sig P6, and it shoots like a charm. Here's the question: is legal for me, 18, to transport the handgun in my car without my father present?

It would be nice just to pop it in the car and go to the range without the fear of getting pulled over for accidentally speeding and the cop sees it in the back seat and arrests me. I don't want to do anything illegal.

Otter · 11-13-2007, 09:11 AM

Call the Tennessee Dept. of Public Safety @ 615-251-8509
1150 Foster Ave.
Nashville, Tn. 37249-1000

ArkansasHunter · 11-13-2007, 09:27 AM

In the past I would say yes it is legal to carry the pistol to the range by an 18 year old.
BUT you can't in Arkansas I just found out !!!!...My son should be a lawyer, but he's a LEO.
I asked him if a 16 to 18 year old could carry a pistol laying on the front seat to go shoot at a shooting range and he said NO they have to be 21 years old to pocess a pistol in Arkansas.
Dam I didn't even know that !!!!

You better check and see what the law is in your state benjibach...A.H

CrazyIvan · 11-13-2007, 09:48 AM

Persons under the age of 21 are not eligible to own a handgun in the United States; therefore, you will not be able to acquire a CCW permit until you are 21.

Use, possession and transport of a handgun at a shooting range, to and from anywhere, or otherwise also requires an adult over the age of 21 to be present with you.

I might be wrong, but I am sure these regulations are nation-wide.

Method of transport (i.e. loaded/unloaded, in trunk/passenger area, etc.) will vary by state, you should check those out. Search online for a CCW permit application for your county. The application package should include the basic laws when it comes to handgun use, transport and ownership as well as some regulations regarding rifles/long guns.

Otter · 11-13-2007, 12:05 PM

In Vermont a 16 or 17 year old must be accompanied by someone over 18, from 18 and up you can carry openly or concealed. Federal law says you must be 21 to purchase a handgun.
I read Tennessee from my Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States, it makes no mention of age.

Chris · 11-16-2007, 02:26 PM

Your state will differ.

In NC you are under 21, you can not purchase or have on your person handgun ammo.

gunney_m · 11-16-2007, 03:18 PM

I wouldn't do it!!!

rckymtnboy · 11-16-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunney_m

I wouldn't do it!!!

Glad to see you took our advice Gunny. It's well worth it to just wait a few years.

gunney_m · 11-16-2007, 04:10 PM

Yeah I did but, im not that stupid carrying a loaded gun without: Concealed Carry licence and of age.

A-10 · 11-16-2007, 08:38 PM

Nothing wrong with sticking to the long guns for a little while.
By the way, an 18 year old can get a CWP in Montana.

risk_3715 · 11-23-2007, 10:50 AM

Looking back to that age I must have broke some stupid law like that. I've transported many a handgun for my brothers or father. Only, I broke the pistol down into atleast four parts and put them in different spots of the vehicle so there was no possible quick or easy way of getting it out.

Even have been pulled over late at night and was stupid enough to let him search my vehicle.- he found the frame and the barrel- couldn't find the slide and he asked me, "Well, son, would you like to explain this?" My favorite thing to do with cops was play stupid, so I responded something like this... "Well, sir, I'm bringing the pistol home from my brother's house and my Dad said that cops get nervous when you have a handgun in sight. He also said it's bad to hide it, like in the glove box. So to make extra sure you know I'm not going to hurt you or anyone, I took it apart and put it in different spots in the truck."
The cop shrugged and put them back and eventually just let me off. He didn't even chastise me for the broken down gun.
Now, I know now- that could have been a bad night for me- so, for a precaution- I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THAT.

gunney_m · 11-23-2007, 10:53 AM

That's somethin, I think ill wait till I get my CCW,legal, I can taste it!!!

2b41 · 12-04-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyIvan

Persons under the age of 21 are not eligible to own a handgun in the United States; therefore, you will not be able to acquire a CCW permit until you are 21.

Use, possession and transport of a handgun at a shooting range, to and from anywhere, or otherwise also requires an adult over the age of 21 to be present with you.

I might be wrong, but I am sure these regulations are nation-wide.

Method of transport (i.e. loaded/unloaded, in trunk/passenger area, etc.) will vary by state, you should check those out. Search online for a CCW permit application for your county. The application package should include the basic laws when it comes to handgun use, transport and ownership as well as some regulations regarding rifles/long guns.

Actually...US law prohibits the sale of a handgun to an individual under the age of 21 by a licensed firearms dealer. Additionally, it prohibits the sale of handgun ammuntion to an individual under the age of 21. US law allows the posession of a handgun by an individual over the age of 18, though many states are more restrictive by state law. For example, in Indiana where I live, you may obtain your CCW at age 18, though you must be given the gun by someone else. A great resource for CCW information is http://www.packing.org. The best advice is to just check up on your laws through local law enforcement...they'll be happy to help.

sorry, packing.org moved to USA Carry - Concealed Firearm Information and Resources - Home.

NorCalEJM · 12-29-2007, 11:01 PM

I live in California, which is one of the stricktest states. Im 18 to and my dad just bought me a Ruger P89. I went to calgunlawsDOTcom and it says I can transport it as long as it is in a locked container, like the trunk, and if i have written permission from a parent or guardian. Being Komi-fornia, im guessing Tennessee would let you do this at the least.

11-13-2007, 09:04 AM	#1
benjibach Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1	Legal Question from an 18 year old Hello! I've been doing reseach on gun laws, and have not been able to find any reliable answers... maybe someone here could help me out? I live in Tennessee, am an 18 year old male, and thoroughly enjoy going to the local gun range to go shooting. My dad recently purchased a Sig P6, and it shoots like a charm. Here's the question: is legal for me, 18, to transport the handgun in my car without my father present? It would be nice just to pop it in the car and go to the range without the fear of getting pulled over for accidentally speeding and the cop sees it in the back seat and arrests me. I don't want to do anything illegal.

11-13-2007, 09:11 AM	#2
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	Call the Tennessee Dept. of Public Safety @ 615-251-8509 1150 Foster Ave. Nashville, Tn. 37249-1000 __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

11-13-2007, 09:48 AM	#4
CrazyIvan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,369	Persons under the age of 21 are not eligible to own a handgun in the United States; therefore, you will not be able to acquire a CCW permit until you are 21. Use, possession and transport of a handgun at a shooting range, to and from anywhere, or otherwise also requires an adult over the age of 21 to be present with you. I might be wrong, but I am sure these regulations are nation-wide. Method of transport (i.e. loaded/unloaded, in trunk/passenger area, etc.) will vary by state, you should check those out. Search online for a CCW permit application for your county. The application package should include the basic laws when it comes to handgun use, transport and ownership as well as some regulations regarding rifles/long guns. __________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me Last edited by CrazyIvan; 11-13-2007 at 09:50 AM.

11-13-2007, 12:05 PM	#5
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	In Vermont a 16 or 17 year old must be accompanied by someone over 18, from 18 and up you can carry openly or concealed. Federal law says you must be 21 to purchase a handgun. I read Tennessee from my Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States, it makes no mention of age. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

11-16-2007, 02:26 PM	#6
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,171 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	Your state will differ. In NC you are under 21, you can not purchase or have on your person handgun ammo. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!

11-13-2007, 09:27 AM	#3
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,722	In the past I would say yes it is legal to carry the pistol to the range by an 18 year old. BUT you can't in Arkansas I just found out !!!!...My son should be a lawyer, but he's a LEO. I asked him if a 16 to 18 year old could carry a pistol laying on the front seat to go shoot at a shooting range and he said NO they have to be 21 years old to pocess a pistol in Arkansas. Dam I didn't even know that !!!! You better check and see what the law is in your state benjibach...A.H

11-16-2007, 03:18 PM	#7
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	I wouldn't do it!!!

11-16-2007, 04:10 PM	#9
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Yeah I did but, im not that stupid carrying a loaded gun without: Concealed Carry licence and of age.

11-16-2007, 08:38 PM	#10
A-10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 734	Nothing wrong with sticking to the long guns for a little while. By the way, an 18 year old can get a CWP in Montana. __________________ If there's nothing worth dying for, there's nothing worth living for.

11-23-2007, 10:50 AM	#11
risk_3715 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 70	Looking back to that age I must have broke some stupid law like that. I've transported many a handgun for my brothers or father. Only, I broke the pistol down into atleast four parts and put them in different spots of the vehicle so there was no possible quick or easy way of getting it out. Even have been pulled over late at night and was stupid enough to let him search my vehicle.- he found the frame and the barrel- couldn't find the slide and he asked me, "Well, son, would you like to explain this?" My favorite thing to do with cops was play stupid, so I responded something like this... "Well, sir, I'm bringing the pistol home from my brother's house and my Dad said that cops get nervous when you have a handgun in sight. He also said it's bad to hide it, like in the glove box. So to make extra sure you know I'm not going to hurt you or anyone, I took it apart and put it in different spots in the truck." The cop shrugged and put them back and eventually just let me off. He didn't even chastise me for the broken down gun. Now, I know now- that could have been a bad night for me- so, for a precaution- I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THAT. Last edited by risk_3715; 11-23-2007 at 10:53 AM.

11-23-2007, 10:53 AM	#12
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	That's somethin, I think ill wait till I get my CCW,legal, I can taste it!!!

12-29-2007, 11:01 PM	#14
NorCalEJM Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 19	I live in California, which is one of the stricktest states. Im 18 to and my dad just bought me a Ruger P89. I went to calgunlawsDOTcom and it says I can transport it as long as it is in a locked container, like the trunk, and if i have written permission from a parent or guardian. Being Komi-fornia, im guessing Tennessee would let you do this at the least.