While research indicates that firearm-related deaths and crime rates are high among young people aged 18–20, more than half of U.S. states continue to follow federal minimum age standards.
In the United States, legal regulations regarding the age for purchasing firearms continue to vary significantly between federal and state laws. At the center of the debate lies access to guns among 18–20-year-olds and the rising statistics of gun violence within this age group.
Federal Law and the Alleged “Legal Loophole”
Under current federal law, the minimum age to purchase a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer is 21. However, for long guns (rifles or shotguns), including those classified as “assault weapons,” the minimum purchase age is 18.
Critics argue that the law is weaker when it comes to unlicensed (private) sellers. While a minimum age of 18 applies to handgun purchases from unlicensed sellers, there is no federal minimum age requirement for purchasing long guns from such sellers.
Striking Statistics: The 18–20 Age Group at Risk
The flexibility in current laws appears to have serious social consequences. The statistics reveal the following striking facts:
- Cause of Death: Firearms have become the leading cause of death among young people aged 18 to 20.
- Suicide Rates: The rate of firearm-related suicides in this age group has increased by 31% over the past decade.
- Crime Rates: Individuals aged 18–20 are reported to commit firearm-related homicides more than three times as often as adults aged 21 and older.
States Set Their Own Policies
In response to this national situation, many states have chosen to adopt stricter regulations than federal law. State-level policies generally fall into three main categories:
Most Comprehensive Restrictions (21+ for All Firearms):
- States such as California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Vermont have set the minimum purchase age for all firearms, regardless of type, at 21.
Hybrid Model (21 for Handguns, 18 for Rifles):
- Many states maintain the federal distinction, keeping the age limit at 21 for handguns and 18 for rifles and shotguns.
- Examples include New York, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- Washington State, meanwhile, sets the minimum age at 21 for both handguns and “semi-automatic assault rifles,” while allowing 18-year-olds to purchase other types of rifles.
States Following Federal Standards:
- Approximately 29 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, and Wyoming, have not enacted stricter statewide age limits and continue to apply the federal minimum standards (21 for handguns from licensed dealers, 18 for rifles).
These legal differences create a patchwork of firearm access across the United States, while gun violence involving young people remains a major topic of national debate.