Legal Age To Buy | A Gun

: Washington and Massachusetts require buyers to be 21 for semiautomatic rifles, while allowing 18-year-olds to purchase other long guns.

It is important to distinguish between buying and possessing. Federal law generally prohibits anyone under from possessing a handgun (with exceptions for ranching, hunting, or military service), but it does not set a minimum age for the possession of long guns. International Snapshot Outside the U.S., legal ages vary significantly: Minimum Age - Giffords.org legal age to buy a gun

: 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. : Washington and Massachusetts require buyers to be

: 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 International Snapshot Outside the U

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

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