What is the difference between a firearm and a handgun?

Question

In Ohio you must be 18 or older to own a firearm. But 21 or older to own a handgun. What is the difference?

Answer 1

A handgun is a type of firearm.

In most states a handgun is legally defined by its overall length or barrel length.

In Ohio its OK for a 18 year old to purchase an AR15 or AK47 and 30rd magazines, but illegal for him to purchase a .22 target pistol.

Here is Ohio's legal definition of Handgun.
2923.11
(C) “Handgun” means any of the following:

(1) Any firearm that has a short stock and is
designed to be held and fired by the use of a
single hand;

(2) Any combination of parts from which a firearm of a type described in division (C)(1) of this
section can be assembled.

Answer 2

You must be 18 or older to buy a rifle or a shotgun, and pass a state background check. You have to be 21 or older to buy a handgun and pass an FBI background check. A rifle is a long weapon that is held in both hands and it is shot from the shoulder, and shoots a single bullet. A shotgun is a long weapon that is held in both hands and fired from the shoulder too, except it fires a shell loaded with BB's that scatter. A Handgun is just what the name implies, it is held in the hand or with both hands and shot from the hands. By the way, the ages for purchasing firearms are determined by the Federal Government, not the individual states. States only decide where firearms are legal, and whether or not you need a permit to buy and or carry a gun.

Answer 3

this is the same in New Hampshire, you can own a firearm @ 18 but not a handgun untill 21. As the other answer states, handguns are basically anything that can be fired with one had, OR you do not rest against you shoulder to shoot. firearms include every type of gun made, rifles, shotguns,pistols, revolvers, sub-machineguns, etc. NH allows 18yr olds to buy and posses a firearm (a long gun) rifle or shotgun for hunting, however they feel that there is no need for them to carry around very concealable handguns untill they are older. I imagine it is similar in your state.

Answer 4

A firearm is a generic term for a shooting iron (rifle, shotgun, pistol or revolver, machingun). A handgun is a firearm made to be fired with one hand.

The law should read 18 or older to own a long or shoulder arm (or may even stipulate: shotgun, or rifle); 21 or older to own a handgun. Double check the language because by definition 'firearms' includes handguns.

Good luck.

H

Answer 5

Handguns are a type of firearm. The law you refer to is based on the assumption that young people are more likely to kill someone if they have a handgun instead of a rifle or shotgun.
It's just another stupid way liberals are taking our rights away and trying to say it is for our own good.

Answer 6

Firearm covers all types of guns...rifle, shotgun and handgun. Yes you need to be 21 years of age to own a handgun. If by some chance you own a carbine rifle (Ruger 44 mag. semi-auto) you'll need to be 21 to purchase ammo.

Answer 7

I agree that a firearm is any gun and a handgun is a pistol, revolvers, etc.

In the law, the firearms you can buy at 18 are shotgun, rifle, or black powder guns. Handguns you must be 21.

Answer 8

Firearm- broad general classification that includes all guns such as long guns (rifle, shotgun) and all pistols. A handgun- more narrow classification that only includes pistols (held in the hand) to be used.

Answer 9

A firearm covers all of the different types of guns. A handgun is a spcific type of firearm.

Answer 10

all hand guns are firearms but not all firearms are hands guns. you can own a rifle, shotgun, etc., but not a hand gun which i think is stupid but yeah it's kinda like that thing all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares....