2nd Amendment and Right to Bear Arms/Confused

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Expert: - 6/5/2009


Question
Hi, I live in California, and I'm a bit confused about handguns. From what information I can get, you must be 21 years old to purchase one, but on the CA Department of Justice site I read that you can take the test to get one @ 18. Do you know if it is possible that in CA it is legal to get a handgun before being 21?

Answer
You really are confused, Danielle, because this is not a Second Amendment question.

Suggest that you contact Sacramento, or go here: http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php

In my state of New York, you couldn't buy a handgun until you were 21, but you could to obtain a handgun license if you were younger, for the purposes of shooting one in competition, etc.

2nd Amendment and Right to Bear Arms

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Dean Speir

Expertise

I can answer questions about Handguns, Rifles, Ammunition, the Firearms Industry, the "gunzine game," practical accessories for self-defense (CCW) handguns; rumor control on firearms myths, errata on the "gunshop grapevine."

I am NOT an Attorney, and nothing I provide here should be relied upon as legal advice. Therefore, please do NOT make inquiries about Criminal Justice issues... this is the Second Amendment topic.

Nor do I do "Private Consultations." Want to made it "private," retain an attorney.

Experience

25 years practical and competitive hangunning; 26 years in the firearms industry; 15 years writing for the gunzines, including 4½ years as Industry Editor for The New Gun Week; maintainer of www.thegunzone.com.

Organizations
Life Member, NRA

Publications
Guns Magazine, Combat Handguns, Petersen's Handguns, American Handgunner, The New Gun Week, Gun & Shooter, American Handgunner, Shooting Industry, American Firearms Industry, Machine Gun News, Practical Shooting International, Law Enforcement Techology, Police Product News, The American Guardian, The Shotgun News, Visier (Germany) and various DBI Books.

Education/Credentials
BA in English Graduate Lethal Force Institute Graduate Gunsite Graduate Defensive Training Institute

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