Open Carrying at 18?

[Guntech]

My nephew has asked me if you can open carry at 18, I am not sure even though it says that you only need to be 18 on opencarry.org, but it also says on californiaopencarry.org that you must be old enough to legally own a firearm. Does "firearm" mean a handgun specifically or can my nephew carry one of my handguns?

[Quiet]

Legal age to own a handgun in CA is 18 or older.

Legal age to purchase a handgun and handgun ammo is 21 or older.

A person between the ages of 18-20 can be gifted a handgun by an immediate family member (grandparent/parent).

[Guntech]

really it can be transfered?

[Quiet]

A 01-FFL dealer can not transfer a handgun to anyone that is under 21 years old.

However, a handgun can be gifted from a grandparent/parent to a child/grandchild and vice versa.

Person recieving the handgun needs to have a HSC.
Once that person gets the HSC, the person gifting the handgun gives the recipant the handgun.
The person recieving the handgun then sends in this form (http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/oplaw.pdf) to CA DOJ.
Two weeks to 4 months later, CA DOJ will send a confirmation letter acknowledging the transfer of ownership.

[Guntech]

Where would you get a HSC, I know I got mine when I bought my first handgun, but I doubt a gunshop would go out of their way to allow an 18 year old to take the HSC exam.

[leitung]

They will let an 18 year old take the exam.. no problem.. I am a 19 year old with a handgun I recieved as a gift from my father, I have a valid exception (Reserve Police Officer), but there is no law saying that an 18 year old can't take the exam, infact the law says 18 and older. If the shop doesn't want to bother going an 18 year old the exam, don't bother with them..

[leitung]

Also, you are in Nor-Cal, if you are close to Grass Valley, go to "The-Range" in Grass Valley, they will hook you up with an HSC for $25.
http://www.the-range.biz

[Guntech]

OK I'll ask the local gunshop -thanks

[Josh3239]

I went to one gun store/range who refused to give me an HSC test, I was 19 at the time. I went to Fort Courage Armory where they actually know the law and Tim let me take it, I scored 100%. I am 20 now and am just biding my time till I can by my first handgun.

[savs2k]

open carry at 18.... im iffy on that because that will not look good for him to LEO and antigunners... im 23 and I won't open carry because if i had a gun on my hip showing, even thought it would be legal LEO would look at me and SH*T all over me for it. The older guys who open carry it doesnt look so bad because they can look like LEO and not panic the public. Seeing a younger person open carry I can almost garentee where ever you are going someone will cause a panic

[mymonkeyman]

Yea, it is his right, but it's not a great idea. It relies on the LEOs knowing two little known laws: that you can open carry unloaded outside of certain prohibited areas, and that 18 year olds can own handguns if transfered from family members. There's a good chance even if they know open carrying is legal it will attract their attention. When they ask about age or ask for id, that would probably result in a (wrongful) arrest.

[Guntech]

I see what you mean, a lot of people are scared of guns and think if you have one your going to kill everyone; especially in Kalifornia

[tombinghamthegreat]

I see what you mean, a lot of people are scared of guns and think if you have one your going to kill everyone; especially in Kalifornia

Also go to opencarry.org for more info, he may want to have a few friends with cameras to tag along.

[Guntech]

Yeah ok I'll pass the info along thanks

[Sam1]

I got a question, can my sister buy a hand gun and then send in the paper work to the DOJ for the transfer? or does it have to be a mom, dad, or grand parent ?

[Equalizer2]

It has to be Mother,Father, Grandparent. your sister can't do it.