Handgun law in virginia?

Question

I am a 19 year old Commonwealth of Virginia resident. I want to own a handgun. I know that you have to be 21 to buy a handgun but I heard somewhere that you only have to be 18 to possess a handgun but someone 21 or over has to buy it for you. The reason is because I want to become a law enforcement officer and I am taking a firearms class. So on my free time I want to be able to go to the range, but don't want to use a shotgun or something else kind of big. I want to practice with a handgun but dont know the laws can someone help?

Answer 1

"That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."
–Constitution of Virginia, Article I, Section 1.

"That no person shall be deprived of his life, liberty, or property without due process of law..."
–Constitution of Virginia, Article I, Section 11.
http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/Constitution.htm

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them..."
–Richard Henry Lee, U.S. Senator for Virginia
http://www.hkweaponsystems.com/cgi-bin/quote.pl?richard_henry_lee

"It shall be unlawful for any person under 18 years of age to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm anywhere in the Commonwealth... This section shall not apply to: ...Any person who, while accompanied by an adult, is at, or going to and from, a lawful shooting range or firearms educational class, provided that the weapons are unloaded while being transported..."
–Code of Virginia, Title 18.2, section 308.7.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-308.7

"If any person sells, barters, gives or furnishes, or causes to be sold, bartered, given or furnished, to any minor a handgun, having good cause to believe him to be a minor, such person shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. This subsection shall not apply to any transfer made between family members or for the purpose of engaging in a sporting event or activity."
–Code of Virginia, Title 18.2, section 309, subdivision B.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-309

Please see also:
·Amendments II, IX, and X of the U.S. Constitution.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm
·18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000922----000-.html#b
·27 CFR 478.99(b).
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:3.0.1.2.3&idno=27#27:3.0.1.2.3.6.1.9

*/End of Line.

Answer 2

OK. From what I get from your question, you aren't asking what you think you are asking.

First and foremost, you want to be in law enforcement. You want to be familiarized with firearms. However, you do not want to receive a criminal charge for doing so because that would disqualify you from ever being employed in law enforcement.

You are correct in the fact that someone between the ages of 18 and 20 may possess a pistol. However, if the person who owns the pistol is not familiar with Virginia and Federal firearm laws, they can get in trouble and so can you. Having someone purchase a firearm for you can be considered a felony.

What I suggest that you do is to look into firearms training. Go to your local gun store or range and ask about information on gun classes. Also, call up some private security instructors (look in your yellow pages) and ask them about firearms training.

If you fail to receive training for pistols, I do suggest that you purchase a shotgun to practice with. The worst problem for new shooters is controlling their flinch when shooting. 12 ga. is fairly cheap at Wal-Mart.

Good luck!

Answer 3

sure you ought to purchase a handgun in VA by using inner maximum sale age 18+ despite the fact that many cities/cities/counties in VA have their very own ordinances on inner maximum revenues of handguns. So the only thank you to be a hundred% particular of the regulations is to touch your community police branch and locate out. alongside with in Farmville VA with the intention to do a private sale of a handgun the persons could desire to get a signed enable from the cheif of police to purchase the handgun..

Answer 4

The best way to find out is to call the folks with whom you hope to work in the future.