If the constitution gives me the right to keep and bear arms why am I not allowed to buy a handgun?

Question

I'm a legal adult (19) with no criminal history whatsoever. I'm 19 but I have to wait til I'm older to buy a handgun. This makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm in California and people here can't buy handguns until they're 21.

Answer 1

Well, this is gonna be a hard truth for you to swallow, but they don't sell guns to retards. I'm sorry. The mentally handicapped are not afforded this right for obvious reasons.

But here's a red ball you can play with!

Answer 2

The law which regulates at what age people are able to do things is based upon past history and events which dictate at what point people can make reasonable choices and in this case the law believes that the age of reason with regards to guns is 21.

Now whether or not the age 21 is reasonable is debatable, since we allow people to join the Military forces which gives them the right to bear arms at an earlier age. I guess that right is weighed against the possibility of getting killed in combat.

With regards to your statement about the Constitution giving you the right to bear arms, I will say this: The Second Amendment states the following:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

This was originally written because people faced the potential threat of military attack and needed a way to defend themselves. This is not the case today, people get guns just to have them. If there is a legitimate reason to have a gun, you live alone, threat of violence, etc. then I think that can be a basis for the need of a weapon, however, maturity and life experience are needed to make reasonable choices about when and how that weapon should be used.

I am not anti-gun by any means, however, I am against someone who has no need to carry a deadly weapon being able to have a concealed pistol on their person whenever they want.

Guns are not going to go out of style in the next two years, sadly quite the opposite I am afraid, so they will still be around when you turn 21.

Answer 3

he Second Amendment, as passed by the House and Senate and later ratified by the States, reads:

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

The hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights which hangs in the National Archives had slightly different capitalization and punctuation inserted by William Lambert, the scribe who prepared it. This copy reads:

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

I agree with you except on two points. One hand guns were almost unknown at that time, but like today hunting and sport rifles were common. This amendment does not address handguns. Maybe the Constitution needs to be amended further, but this leads to my second point. Most murders and gun assaults are done with hand guns since they are so easy to conceal until the point of use. This fact cost many Presidents dearly, as well as other law makers and innocent people all over America. And most importantly, it still does. Granted the most publicized assaults in recent years were by people using rifles or automatic weapons, but these are still easier to spot from a distance. And many more die from handguns like the 11 year old boy in North Carolina who was killed by a man in a road rage incident. He had the right to keep and bear arms too until he violated his right by infringing on the rights of others by confronting and assaulting a family. And if I am not mistaken he had no record either. As a veteran I can say that when you are angry a firearm of any kind is a bad thing. You can easily go on a rampage that can't be stopped until you are shot in turn or run out of ammunition, or die some other way. And once you kill someone they are gone. Dead is dead forever. I understand you and think maybe you can handle a hand gun responsibly, but there are reason for everything. I don't agree many laws being twisted by lawyers and government today to spy on U.S. citizens, but that doesn't mean it is always wrong. I hope this helps, really.

Answer 4

You can still own a rifle or a handgun, but you have to be 21 to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. So technically you still have the right to bear arms just not outside your house (but you can carry a rifle in your trunk).

"Well, this is gonna be a hard truth for you to swallow, but they don't sell guns to retards. I'm sorry. The mentally handicapped are not afforded this right for obvious reasons."

There is currently a law for pretentious f**k heads, so you're out also.

Answer 5

I think the legal age limit for a handgun is 21. But it probably differs from state to state.

Answer 6

Certain states regulate the sale of handgun's until 21. Its similar to the laws regulating drinking......hmmmmmm same agency.

The legislators thought that you need to be more mature for a handgun than a rifle or shotgun.

Just remember, shotguns are better for home-defense than a handgun.

Answer 7

That is an example of laws infringing upon the constitution. Before i answer, i shall dismiss some nonsense that the federally run public schools try to teach our children, beginning with a correct wording of the second amendment and an explanation thereof.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

1. well regulated militia. In the time the constitution was written, the militia consisted of every able bodied male citizen. well regulated meaning up to date on their training and having current weaponry.
2. Necesary to a free state. the general populace owning weapons makes it difficult for enemies of freedom both abroad and within to take over
3. the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. It means it exactly as it sounds. You should be able to own and use your weaponry.

Dismissal of nonsense:
Only guns good for hunting should be allowed. nonsense!. hunting is not mentioned in the 2nd amendment. guaranteeing the security of a free state is.

But guns are bad. nonsense. guns are metal and wood. inanimate objects. the good or bad comes from the person holding it.

Assault rifles definitely should be banned. nonsense. current weaponry is required for the well regulated militia to be effective

We should ban guns because only bad guys use them. nonsense. in places where only bad guys use guns is because the govt. made them illegal. bad guys dont care about the law. the good guys dont have guns because they got confiscated.

But kids could get hold of one and hurt themselves. nonsense. If you fail to teach your offspring how to effectively and safely operate a firearm that you keep in your home then you deserve to bury your child.

My apologies for taking so long getting to the point. You should write your congressman to complain. bring up age discrimination, voting, the selective service, etc. Nobody should question your motives behind purchasing a gun. If you do not already have a firearm, i suggest you train with a rifle before training with a pistol. pistols take a bit more skill to hold them steady.

Answer 8

Because you can kill someone with it. It is for your own good. imagine if everybody brings handguns like it is normal. We would have a society of bandits!!

I disagree with the stuff about the second ammendment. It does not really matter if it was familiar or not. What's the point of familiarity anyway.

Plus, there is no probability that such would be changed in the near future.

Answer 9

west coasters believe that by not allowing young adults (under 21) to have guns, that crime will go down. of course this is a load of bull. its not the same in all states, here in oklahoma you can purchase a handgun at 18.

Answer 10

We were given the right to bear arms to protect ourselves from criminals and government...why whould the Forfathers have thought this to be such an important issue to make it a Constitutional Right? You ARE able to purchase firearms. You are required to have a license (for a couple of reasons), just as you are required to have a license for vehicles. Licensing insures the general public that one who has obtained the permission to practice or operate the subject of the license, has met minimum requirements to satisfy the community of his or her responsibilities of using, operating, or practicing. I don't believe these are the legal words; however, this is probably the general intent.

Answer 11

Really, and have you registered with the Milita yet? If not, then the Second ademdment is a mute point, as we are allowed to bare arms for form a milita.

You can't have a gun just beocuse you want one, you need to have a rreason, such a hunting, portection (life and Property where the Police can't help), or Military use. Not for show or sport and fun.

We need to put restrictions in order to protect the masses from the few who can't handle ther weapons.