Is it legal to buy a 10 year old his own gun?

[Honeycombe8]

I know someone who has bought a 10 year old his own gun. A shotgun or rifle of some sort. It's short 'cause the child is, of course, small.

The man and his parents take him to the gun range with it, shoot real bullets, then they keep it locked up at home. The range is a family outing, bringing along cousin children, also to shoot. They all shoot at child-oriented targets (the meanies in cartoon movies and such).

Is that legal?

[Gravitycollapse]

1. It is perfectly legal.

[elleng]

2. Depends on the state.

[Travis_0004]

3. It doesn't legally belong to the kids

It was bought by the parents and belongs to them.

[petronius]

7. I was just wondering about that - when *do* kids actually start to own things

that their parents can't take away?

When they earn the money themselves? When they reach a certain age? When they move out?

[Gravitycollapse]

8. You can own a long rifle or shotgun when you're 18 and handguns when you're 21.

[petronius]

11. But I'm (somewhat idly) wondering about the more general question

of ownership; e.g., who 'owned' my skateboard when I was 11? Or my stuffed bunny when I was 1.5?

[Gravitycollapse]

12. Your assets likely belonged to your parents until you were of legal age.

[Hoyt]

4. Gungeoneers do it regularly, and feel it is important to introduce younguns to the gun cult.

Many gunners are celebrating the verdict with their budding gun nuts. How do you think that will play out down the road?

[tularetom]

5. Somebody bought one for me when I was 8

I only got to use it when my mom or dad unlocked the case it was in, but I was told it was mine.

[aikoaiko]

6. Generally yes, but under 16 they usually have to be supervised.

10-12 is a very common age range to buy a 410 shotgun or a 22lr rifle for a young, new shooter.

[NYC_SKP]

9. My grandfather's pump action .22 rifle was given to me at about age 10.

I wasn't allowed to use it without permission and I never did.

It's quite the antique, as it turns out.

[littlewolf]

10. I got my first gun (.22lr bolt action) when I was 10

my dad and I would go to the range together and go
rabbit and squirrel hunting. good memories.

I was told it was mine, but the only time I could even look
at it was when my dad was with me.

which is how it should be.

[darkangel218]

13. Did you enjoy shooting squirrels?

[littlewolf]

17. I enjoyed eating them.

[darkangel218]

18. sick.

[lynne]

14. The men in our family get their first gun at 11 years -

- of course, it's a junior hunting rifle that's now very much an antique and can't be used. It was originally purchased for an uncle when he was age 11 in 1927. It's handed down to every boy as he turns 11 as a matter of family tradition.

[Pelican]

15. Sounds like a good time...

I had a BB at 8....

God help me if I had pointed it at something living though.... *shudder*

[Egalitarian Thug]

16. It is in most of the west. My dad bought me my first rifle @ 10 (maybe 11).

Of course you have to remember that in those days we were all taught from the time we could understand language what firearms were, what they were for, and to never, ever, under the most horrible penalty a kid could imagine, treat them like a toy.

The chief problem with guns is stupid people and a lack of training.