Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Definition: Assault Weapon (semi-automatic) refers primarily (but not exclusively) to firearms that possess the cosmetics of an assault rifle (which are fully-automatic).

So, my question is how old do you have to be to purchase what is to my knowledge considered an assault weapon? The guns I am using as a reference are AR-15's, AK-47's, and so on. All semi-auto but I have been told they are considered assault weapons? This is why I ask, after I turned 18 I went to a local gun store here in the 757 area (at this point I am not going to throw their name out there) and I was informed by one of their salesmen (after looking at their decent selection of AR-15's , a few AK's and a few AK varients) that I would not be eligiable to purchase anything of that type untill I was 21 due to the fact they are considered "assault weapons". The following week I went to another store (again in this area) to check their selection out and I had a conversation with the guy that works there about saiagas and he told me I could buy a saiga (7.62X39) but it had to be with a monte carlo stock (I could not buy the one with the pistol grip on it he had in stock) I didnt ask him about any of AR-15's due to the prices on them there. SO, I have put a little research into it and I am still coming up with mixed awnsers! I thought that the rifles I am looking at are all still considered long guns? I read some of the virginia statutes, visted many other resources and even dug through these forums a bit and I am left with these main questions:

Can you purchase an AR-15, AK, or anything of the like at the age of 18?

If so, what limitations on them do you face?

If not, where is it stated? I have researched and researched and still have came up blank!

Also, if anything I stated above is wrong or if I have used any wrong termonology please correct me as I am on a quest of knowledge and ANYTHING you can tell me on this subject will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

There is no law that requires you to be 21 to buy an "assault rifle"(in the sense of the term your referring). The law makes only two distinctions in regards to types of gun Handgun and Longgun(rifle or shotgun).

If a dealer tells you need to 21 to buy an "assault rifle" ask him to please point you towards the law that defines "assault rifle" and then ask him to find were it says that in his Virginia Dealers Procedure Manual. It's complete bunk and amazing apparently a common misconception.

Jakeiscrazy wrote:There is no law that requires you to be 21 to buy an "assault rifle"(in the sense of the term your referring). The law makes only two distinctions in regards to types of gun Handgun and Longgun(rifle or shotgun).

To be more precise, it's longarms and everything else. If it's not a rifle (rifled barrel, capable of being fired from the shoulder, minimum barrel length of 16", minimum overall length of 26", not a machinegun or destructive device) or a shotgun (smoothbore barrel, fires shotgun shells, capable of being fired from the shoulder, minimum barrel length of 18", minimum overall length of 26", not a machinegun or destructive device), it's other, and may only be transferred to someone twenty-one or older.

There's a prohibition on possession of assault weapons by persons under eighteen, maybe that's where people are getting hung up. As long as you're a citizen and over eighteen, buying/possessing an assault weapon is not prohibited in the Commonwealth.

Direct any dealer who tells you that to Virginia code Section 18.2-308.2:2 Nowhere does it say anything about an age limit, that is strictly controlled by Federal law. Virginia does have a 3rd ID requirement for the purchase of an "assault firearm", which is defined as "any semi-automatic rifle or pistol"......."with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock". When I bought my AR15 I was surprised that I was asked for a 3rd ID (the State Police website has a list). The dealer told me that if my rifle had shipped with a 20 round mag the standard 2 ID's would have sufficed. Go to the State Police web site, they list all the criteria for firearm purchase eligibility.