Handguns when under age 21

O

osu_springer

Inactive
I have a question for any of you that are familiar with law regarding carrying a handgun when under 21. Is it legal for someone between the ages of 18 and 21 to openly carry a handgun? I know that Ohio state law has specific requirements for those under 18, however, no mention is made for those older than 18 regarding open possession. Last year our CCW bill was signed into law, and that answers all questions concerning concealed carry. I'm currently 20 yrs old and would like to be able to carry my pistol with me. This is not for any real particular reason, other than I feel it is my right to do so, and would like to exercise that right. Anyone who could inform me or at least point me in the right direction for answers would be greatly appreciated.
 
OSU,

Welcome first of all.

Second, goto www.packing.org to find out the laws in your state.

Third, vote and get people your age and younger to change the laws that will allow you to buy a handgun before 21 and to be able to carry it without restrictions.

In most states, I hate to tell you that you are still considered a little kid that shouldn't have adult "toys" and the cops will gladly bust you for trying to be an adult. I feel for you and those of your brothers and sisters in the same age group, but honestly, you are still considered little babies until you reach the magacal age of 21.

Good luck, and God Bless.

Wayne
 
I do all the time, I'm 19. Of course, I'm carring in the woods, as open carry in an urban environment is almost non-existant in MI.

I have seen police and DNR while doing it, and the onlything that was asked was by the DNR if I had a small game license (while carrying a gun afield, you must have a hunting license, the only exception is for CCW).

Third, vote and get people your age and younger to change the laws that will allow you to buy a handgun before 21 and to be able to carry it without restrictions.
Click to expand...

To do that, some congresscritter is going to have to stick his or her neck out and propose the bill. It is almost guaranteed to never happen. A better way would be to set the legal age for EVERYTHING to 18. Also, you will get many more teens involved that way. If you only go for the 18-20 year old gun owners, there jut aren't many, and even fewer who would do what was needed to get a bill going.
 
USP,

I figured such was the case, although actual laws in the state take no position on this matter. I've done the text research, just now working on how the law is "actually" carried out. However unwise it may be, I feel the need to harass my local PD with their ineptitude concerning the law. The PD firearms instructor should not be entrusted with a gun himself. He once tried to tell me that the bullets I was shooting into a wooded valley, an area that serves as my backstop, were ricocheting off of the tree stump and doing uphill in the reverse direction, through another set of woods, and into a valley with enough velocity to stick in a tree near some anti-gun nut's house. The calibers were also that of a 9mm and .22LR. Now, unless my education has failed me concerning kinematics, it's next to impossible for those calibers to follow his logic.
 
You know, I have no idea. I've never run into this before. I will tell you that I also live in Ohio, and when I was 18 (please, no smart cracks on that :D ) my dad gave me a Hi Standard .22 revolver for my birthday. Given that he worked all the time and there was nowhere to shoot within walking distance (didn't have a car yet), I strapped on a holster in plain sight, got on a bus and rode to a remote area to shoot. I occasionally got some strange looks, but no one ever said anything to me about it. Of course, those were different times :( .
 
Depends on the state

In WA, open carry is legal. However, a person between 18 and 21 may not possess a loaded pistol unless on their own property or fixed place of business. Also, a hinderance here is the fact that you can't have a loaded pistol in your vehicle unless you have a CP permit and the gun is on your person.

I do think the law should be changed to 18 for CP permits and handgun possession in general.. I shouldn't have to be fearful of my own safty since I am disarmed when I leave work or home.
 
I feel the need to harass my local PD with their ineptitude concerning the law.
Click to expand...
I hope your ultimate goal is not to harass your local PD. If it is, you'll be disappointed. You will not have that effect. The people who would enforce a ban on open carry will not see you as an antagonist. They will see you as a criminal.

There are at least a few good reasons for openly carrying even when it's illegal. Harassing the police is not one of them.
 
No, my ultimate goal is not to go out and harass the PD. I am definitely going to ensure that whatever I do is inside of my rights. If it turns out to be unlawful to carry openly until I'm 21, that is not a problem. However, if it is within my rights to do so now, I'd gladly do so.
 
When I get my concealed pistol permit(the term used in WA), I do plan to carry concealed in Winter, but theres no way in hell I'm going to bother with it in the summer.

I do believe that having the permit will ease tension with law enforcement, as well as making it legal to keep my gun loaded in the car. How ever, in the 60 days after my 21st, I'm not going around unarmed any longer(since we are an open carry state).

I have a question:

Why shouldn't 18 - 21 year olds be allowed to protect themselves? We can vote, we can die for our country, we have to file taxes, we can drive, etc. But why must we rely soley on the police, who have, depending on the area, a rather slow response time?
 
Why shouldn't 18 - 21 year olds be allowed to protect themselves? We can vote, we can die for our country, we have to file taxes, we can drive, etc. But why must we rely soley on the police, who have, depending on the area, a rather slow response time?
Click to expand...
Very good question, Jonathon, and I'll agree with that up to a point. If you can go to Iraq and put it all on the line, you should be able to enjoy a beer. Now I'm probably going to open Pandora's Box here, but carrying a gun is not the same thing. It's a proven fact that younger people are GENERALLY more prone to act on impulse. Older folk tend more towards considering effects and reprocussions. A shot fired on impulse can't be called back and saying I'm sorry afterwards doesn't get it. So, they set an arbitrary, magical age. That said, I've seen 15 yr. old's that are far more mature than some in their 50's, and some 20 yr old's that should still be in diapers. So, there has to be a line there somewhere. Problem is, where do you draw that magical line?
 
21... great age. You're beginning to see the world as an adult and are showered with all the responsibilities of adulthood.

Please don't harrass the local law enforcement folks especially if you are "caught" carrying a handgun. They will treat you as a criminal. Let your attorney do the intellectual discussions. Poor way to start life out! Just wait until you're 21 and do your thing.
 
Problem is, where do you draw that magical line?
Click to expand...

18. For everything. If you can't trust a 20 year old with a gun, how can you trust him with a car? How could you trust him at 16 with a car? If you can trust an 18 year old to make an informed decision about smoking, why not about drinking? If you can give an 18 year old a pistol and a machine gun and tell them to figth in Iraq, why can't you trust them to defend themselves at home

You are no longer a minor at 18, why should there be things you can't legally do?
 
Guys, 3 years does not make a difference. Serriously.

I will say another thing as well, if someone gets their permit right at 21, then they were definatly wanting it at 18, and I would say the vast majority of those getting it at the minimum age are pretty well expirienced with firearms, and they have given it some thought.

Impulse? Then why don't we just make the minimum voting age 21? Or to serve in the military 21? Afterall, why should 19 yearolds be trusted to patrol the streets with a loaded rifle, when "on impulse" they could gun someone down?

It just defies logic to restrict the age to 21 for anything...
 
On the note of changing the age to 18 for handguns, I have this to say. If you allow someone to drive a car, is it not more likely for them to kill a person with a car than with a gun? I'm sure we've all heard the statistics that more people die in car accidents then in shootings. So I can't really see the sense in saying that just because guns are percieved as more dangerous in the hands of a young adult than a car, that they should not be given the right to a handgun. When a kid first gets their license to drive, they learn the responsibility that goes along with having the license (I know that some do not, but that is only their instructor's fault, whether be it family, or state). Almost any kid who has been brough up around guns respects them for what they are, tools that can be dangerous if misused. I learned the same rules about power tools and heavy equipment. I'm only 20 and I've been taught how to drive anything with tracks or wheels. I routinely operate heavy trucks grossing over 100k lbs. They are dangerous, very dangerous is misused, yet, those who are 18 are allowed to obtain in state permits to operate them. If those under 21 are not mature enough to do something that could endanger someone's life, why not prevent them from doing anything that is dangerous? On another note, why allow those under 21 to buy long guns? I know I would fear more the person with a rifle than one with a handgun.
 
In Texas the Gov has already signed legislation that would allow military personnel under the 21 and at least 18 to apply for CCW permits.
 
osu_springer,

I'm not sure about open carry, but North Dakota will issue a non-resident permit for concealed carry. According to packing.org, the minimum age is 18. If ND has reciprocity with Ohio, or recognizes a ND CCW license you would most likely be able to carry.

Anyhow, you could carry in ND and states that have reciprocity with ND. It's worth looking into at least.
 
Truly, the posts of the younger people here reveal mature, responsible people that I have no problem with having a CCW permit. As I said, age does not a responsible person make. But I think we're in agreement that there has to be some control. Would you issue a permit to a 5 yr old? Ridiculous, I know; but the point is that there HAS to be a line somewhere. So, I'm throwing the ball in your court. You're the lawmaker, and it's on you to come up with some sort of standard. Opinions? Options? Hmmm? ;)

By the way, any military vet knows that no one would dare open fire on his own. He's too afraid of getting Gunny's boot up his rear. :D :D :D
 
I would say to own and purchase any firearm and any sort of munitions is 18 years of age. To carry concealed would 18 with a liscense(shouldn't need a liscense but meh,.. another discussion). To possess firearms(UNLOADED UNLESS ENGAGING IN A SHOOTING SPORT OR ON PRIVATE LAND) and ammunition would be 16 WITH a safty class(like hunters ed) card(most states have them).

Reason I state all this is that I feel 3 years wouldn't make a difference for anyone, especialy those that anyone would feel "irresponsible" at age 18. Also, long guns may be purchased at 18, and we ALL know that a long gun is much deadlier than a handgun.

I'll say this though, most parents these days don't introduce their kids into guns until they are 10 or older, and that is really sad in my opinion...

On a side note, I feel priveleged to be apprenticed to a couple(a shoe repairman and his wife) who are pro gun, and trust my judgement enough to allow me to open carry a loaded pistol when I am working there. Fun thing is, no one is bothered by it in the least, and cops have commented on my purty M15 :cool:
 
In Texas the Gov has already signed legislation that would allow military personnel under the 21 and at least 18 to apply for CCW permits.
Click to expand...

See, I don't like that though. Why do they get to, and I don't? I am physically incapable of joining the military, so no one tell me to simply join up if I want the privledge. Why should they get to carry concealed, and not me, just because they have been in the military? It is a step in the right direction, but I fear that these things never go past the first step.

If you allow someone to drive a car, is it not more likely for them to kill a person with a car than with a gun?
Click to expand...

Exactly. And you can do that at 16, or even younger. I could legally drive at 14 years and 9 months, with a parent. Much more likely, as nearly everyone drives. Nowhere near as many will own a gun, let alone carry it.

Would you issue a permit to a 5 yr old? Ridiculous, I know; but the point is that there HAS to be a line somewhere. So, I'm throwing the ball in your court. You're the lawmaker, and it's on you to come up with some sort of standard. Opinions? Options? Hmmm?
Click to expand...

18. You are legally no longer a minor at 18, meaning you should have full rights. Either that, or make it that you are a minor until 21. But seeing that the only two things I can't do at 18 are some firearm related things, and drinking, I think the line oughta be 18. I can go to a strip bar, casino, go smoke, get a tatoo, buy a rifle, join the Army, visit a doctor on my own, call myself in sick (if I were still in high school), quit high school (if I were stupid), etc. Why not handguns and drinking?

To possess firearms(UNLOADED UNLESS ENGAGING IN A SHOOTING SPORT OR ON PRIVATE LAND) and ammunition would be 16 WITH a safty class(like hunters ed) card(most states have them).
Click to expand...

I was out hunting at 12, by myself on our own land.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top