when was the age to buy a handgun at 18 in effect?

[elementfreak431]

Im writing a paper and need to know if the legal age to buy a handgun was ever 18. And if so, when was it changed to 21? Could someone please answer me and cite their sources? Thanks

[whoshisface]

Im writing a paper and need to know if the legal age to buy a handgun was ever 18. And if so, when was it changed to 21? Could someone please answer me and cite their sources? Thanks

At one time I don't think there was an age limit. Google foo.

My guess is either before 1968 or 1986

Congress passed the first blanket prohibition on felons carrying guns in the Gun Control Act of 1968, which made it illegal for felons to possess a gun any under circumstances. The Firearm Owners' Protection Act, passed in 1986, reinforced the ban on felons carrying guns, and also banned people who have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment from possessing guns.

It appears prior to 1968 not withstanding local or state laws that might have preceded the gun control act of 1968

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/laws/gca68.htm

This is the first law i can find on a federal level that banned sales of HANDGUNS to those under 21 and Rifles to those under 18

[elementfreak431]

thats what I found too, thanks for taking the time to look

[knight0334]

1968 via the Gun Control Act of 1968 for commercial sales.

Before that, Title I type firearms weren't really regulated. You could mail order handguns, rifles, and shotguns without any paperwork, and age didn't matter under federal laws. Some states did have their own age requirements though.

Private intra-state sales are pretty much unregulated by federal law. It still prohibits transfers of guns to those under 18, but anyone 18yo or older can still buy a handgun privately, barring state and local laws. Due to PA's and federal laws, a <21yo handgun buyer must transfer it at a sheriff(except certain inter-family transfers).