Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

What is the age that you can buy a pistol from an individual in the state of Virginia? I know that you have to be 21 to buy from a licensed individual, but how about somehow selling a gun from their personal collection? thanks!

18, but you need to be in the same state. If it needs to go through an FFL your SOL.

0yrs, but you can't possess it until age 18.

By the way, obtaining ammo can be just as difficult as obtaining a gun under 21. There is no such thing as straw purchase for ammo though.

I think I can get ammo pretty easily but it's annoying when you ask the buyer if he'll sell to an 18 year old and they always say no.

mebbe that's cuz he's the buyer...

Piggy backing off of this question, could a parent of legal guardian purchase it from a dealer and then legally sell it to you. Would that still be considered a straw purchase or would it be exempt because they are your parent and/or you are able to legally own it.

SN: I hate this stupid patchwork of laws.

Connor34 wrote:I think I can get ammo pretty easily but it's annoying when you ask the buyer if he'll sell to an 18 year old and they always say no.

Don't ask.
I purchased 5 handguns when I was 18-20. Showing up open carrying as usual might have helped...

Palladin wrote:mebbe that's cuz he's the buyer...

I'm just saying it's annoying when it happens over and over. I understand they are the buyer

Jakeiscrazy wrote:Piggy backing off of this question, could a parent of legal guardian purchase it from a dealer and then legally sell it to you. Would that still be considered a straw purchase or would it be exempt because they are your parent and/or you are able to legally own it.

Buying to give as a gift is fine. Buying for resale, even to a family member, is not likely to pass the government sniff test. Of course, the odds they would find out unless you tell them (blab about it on the interwebs) are pretty much nil.

Diomed wrote:Buying for resale, even to a family member, is not likely to pass the government sniff test.

Why is that? Unless you have reason to believe that the purchaser is not otherwise able to legally purchase the weapon, the gubmint doesn't really care.

Yarddawg wrote:

Diomed wrote:Buying for resale, even to a family member, is not likely to pass the government sniff test.

Why is that? Unless you have reason to believe that the purchaser is not otherwise able to legally purchase the weapon, the gubmint doesn't really care.

Yeah but still against the law I think...kinda like all the hoopla about making it illegal for people to use iPods or text while walking. Some LEO said it would never be enforced...ok then why does it need to be a law...if its a law then it can be enforced and will be sooner or later...

Yarddawg wrote:

Diomed wrote:Buying for resale, even to a family member, is not likely to pass the government sniff test.

Why is that? Unless you have reason to believe that the purchaser is not otherwise able to legally purchase the weapon, the gubmint doesn't really care.

Because in this example they are ineligible to buy the gun. To purchase from an FFL you must be 21 for a handgun, so technically they are prohibited, family member or not. Practically they just need a family member who has enough guns already and can afford to sell one or two off.

The under 21 part was not clear to me. I was under the impression that he was suggesting that a family member could not sell a weapon to another family member.

I'll wake up in a few minutes.

Yarddawg wrote:The under 21 part was not clear to me. I was under the impression that he was suggesting that a family member could not sell a weapon to another family member.

I'll wake up in a few minutes.

I would also consider residency...not all families live in the same state...

Yarddawg wrote:

Diomed wrote:Buying for resale, even to a family member, is not likely to pass the government sniff test.

Why is that? Unless you have reason to believe that the purchaser is not otherwise able to legally purchase the weapon, the gubmint doesn't really care.

Because any time you buy a firearm for someone else and it isn't a gift, that is considered a straw purchase. If they are paying you for it or you are receiving some other sort of consideration for filling out the paperwork and taking possession of the firearm, then the transaction is not a gift, making it a straw buy. It does not matter if the ultimate recipient (the "actual buyer" on the 4473) is prohibited or not, buying on behalf of someone else is the crime.