The sheriff's deputy is WRONG.
The prohibiting age, per
§6110.1 is 18
There is NO such restriction, in Pa. law, that prohibits a 18-20 year old from purchasing a handgun. NONE!
A Pa. resident most absolutely CAN purchase a handgun, in Pa., at age 18.
AND, the sheriff's office absolutely CAN perform the transfer in accordance with:
18Pa.C.S.§6111(c)
(c) Duty of other persons.--Any person who is not a licensed
importer, manufacturer or dealer and who desires to sell or
transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person shall do so only
upon the place of business of a licensed importer, manufacturer,
dealer or county sheriff's office, the latter of whom shall
follow the procedure set forth in this section as if he were the
seller of the firearm. The provisions of this section shall not
apply to transfers between spouses or to transfers between a
parent and child or to transfers between grandparent and
grandchild.
Now, that said.
FEDERAL law prohibits licensed dealers (FFL's) from selling/transferring handguns to anyone under 21. Guess who that leaves as the only available transfer agent for 18-20 yr olds? Yep - the Sheriff's office :)
In addition to the above there are also exceptions to 6111.
The end of Paragraph (c) of 6111 states:
..The provisions of this section shall not
apply to transfers between spouses or to transfers between a
parent and child or to transfers between grandparent and
grandchild.
So you can legally "buy" or be gifted a handgun from your parent, grandparent, spouse, children or grandchildren WITHOUT the need for execution of a "transfer" at a FFL or Sheriff's office.
Per paragraph (e), Antique and replica firearms are also exempt.
RECAP: 18-20 year olds
CAN:
Purchase handgun (from private party) and have it transferred at the sheriff's office.
Be sold or gifted handgun by parent/grandparent/spouse with NO transfer required.
Can NOT:
Buy hadgun from FFL dealer.
Have private sale transferred by FFL dealer.
Purchase handgun ammo from licenced dealer.