It is ILLEGAL for a minor to possess:

  • A handgun.
  • A short barreled rifle.
  • A short barreled shotgun.
  • A fully automatic weapon.
  • A machinegun firearm attachment.

It is LEGAL if:

  1. A minor younger than 14 years old who possesses a dangerous weapon, has permission from the minor’s parent or guardian to possess the dangerous weapon, is accompanied by the minor’s parent or guardian or a responsible adult while the dangerous weapon is in the minor’s possession, and does not use the dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime.
  2. A minor who is 14 years old or older but younger than 18 years old possesses a dangerous weapon, has permission from the minor’s parent or guardian to possess the dangerous weapon, and the minor does not use the dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime.
  3. An individual purchases a firearm as a gift for a minor.
  4. An individual sells a firearm to a minor if a parent or guardian accompanies the minor. However, we do not recommend this.

It is LEGAL for:

  • A minor who is a patron at an amusement park, pier, or similar location and is possessing a firearm to participate in lawfully operated target concessions if the firearm to be used is firmly chained or affixed to the counters.
  • A minor attending a hunter’s safety course or a firearms safety course and possessing a weapon as part of the course.
  • A minor using a firearm at an established range or other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited by state or local law.
  • A minor participating in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm, or practicing for the competition.
  • A minor who is on real property with the permission of the owner, licensee, or lessee of the property and who has the permission of a parent or legal guardian or the owner, licensee, or lessee of the property to possess a firearm not otherwise in violation of law.
  • A minor who has a valid hunting license and is possessing a firearm to lawfully engage in hunting.
  • A minor traveling to or from an activity described above with an unloaded firearm in the minor’s possession.

State Laws

  • 76-11-201. Definitions.
    As used in this part:
    (4) “Machinegun firearm attachment” means any part or combination of parts added to a semiautomatic firearm that allows the firearm to fire as a fully automatic weapon.
  • 76-11-211. Possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.
  • 76-11-212.  Transferring a handgun, short barreled rifle, short barreled shotgun, or fully automatic weapon to a minor.
  • 76-11-213. Parent or guardian providing a firearm to a violent minor.
  • 76-11-214. Parent or guardian knowing a minor is in possession of a dangerous weapon.
  • 76-11-215. Selling a firearm to a minor.

Federal Laws

18 U.S.C. §922 – Unlawful Acts
(x)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer to a person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a juvenile
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person who is a juvenile to knowingly possess
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(3) This subsection does not apply to –
(A) a temporary transfer of a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile or to the possession or use of a handgun or ammunition by a juvenile if the handgun and ammunition are possessed and used by the juvenile
(i) in the course of employment, in the course of ranching or farming related to activities at the residence of the juvenile, target practice, hunting, or a course of instruction in the safe and lawful use of a handgun;
(ii) with the prior written consent of the juvenile’s parent or guardian who is not prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing a firearm, except
(I) during transportation by the juvenile of an unloaded handgun in a locked container directly from the place of transfer to a place at which an activity described in clause (i) is to take place and transportation by the juvenile of that handgun, unloaded and in a locked container, directly from the place at which such an activity took place to the transferor; or
(II) with respect to ranching or farming activities as described in clause (i), a juvenile may possess and use a handgun or ammunition with the prior written approval of the juvenile’s parent or legal guardian and at the direction of an adult who is not prohibited by Federal, State or local law from possessing a firearm;
(iii) the juvenile has the prior written consent in the juvenile’s possession at all times when a handgun is in the possession of the juvenile; and
(iv) in accordance with State and local law;
(B) a juvenile who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard who possesses or is armed with a handgun in the line of duty;
(C) a transfer by inheritance of title (but not possession) of a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile; or
(D) the possession of a handgun or ammunition by a juvenile taken in defense of the juvenile or other persons against an intruder into the residence of the juvenile or a residence in which the juvenile is an invited guest.
(4) A handgun or ammunition, the possession of which is transferred to a juvenile in circumstances in which the transferor is not in violation of this subsection shall not be subject to permanent confiscation by the Government if its possession by the juvenile subsequently becomes unlawful because of the conduct of the juvenile, but shall be returned to the lawful owner when such handgun or ammunition is no longer required by the Government for the purposes of investigation or prosecution.
(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “juvenile” means a person who is less than 18 years of age.
(6)(A) In a prosecution of a violation of this subsection, the court shall require the presence of a juvenile defendant’s parent or legal guardian at all proceedings.
(B) The court may use the contempt power to enforce subparagraph (A).
(C) The court may excuse attendance of a parent or legal guardian of a juvenile defendant at a proceeding in a prosecution of a violation of this subsection for good cause shown.