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Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess in California.’ Who Can Have a Gun. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 16 November

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[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]

Minimum Age to Purchase and Possess in California

Minimum age for sales and transfers: California prohibits any person, corporation or firm from selling a handgun to anyone under age 21, and from selling, loaning, or transferring any firearm to a "minor." While California law does not define the term "minor", this term appears to mean persons under age 18 when read in context with other laws.

Minimum age for possession: California law prohibits minors from possessing a handgun. Exceptions to this prohibition include situations where a parent or legal guardian is present or has consented to the possession. In addition, minors may possess handguns when engaged in certain recreational sports, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting; agricultural, ranching, or hunting activities; and any motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical events, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.

There is no minimum age to possess rifles and shotguns in California, although federal age restrictions still apply…

ID: Q6956

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