Legal Age To: Buy A Gun

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) , these are the federal minimum ages:

: Federal law permits unlicensed (private) sellers to transfer handguns to individuals at least 18 years old , and there is no federal minimum age for the private transfer of long guns. State-Specific Variations 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 According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

States can raise these minimum ages but cannot lower them below the federal standard. As of 2026, several states have stricter rules: Purchase States can raise these minimum ages but

: 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.