Minors at a range....

[jeffreyliu838]

Is it legal for minors + one 18 year old to go to a shooting range? 18 year old owns the gun.

Thanks.

[TurboChrisB]

Legal? Perfectly....but it's up to the range as to their policy. Normally they will allow minors accompanied by a parent.

[Diesel-Gunner]

Legal? Perfectly....but it's up to the range as to their policy. Normally they will allow minors accompanied by a parent.

I totally agree. I am older than 18 but have taken my nephew who is 14 to the range many times. I think it's important to get the younger crowd interested and taught properly.

[joelogic]

Off topic but I was told you had to be 18 to shoot a RAW, truth or FUD?

[69Mach1]

Off topic but I was told you had to be 18 to shoot a RAW, truth or FUD?

True

[CSACANNONEER]

I used to shoot alone at Coyote Point when I was 16. I doubt that any range will let a minor shoot alone now. Also, when I worked at an indoor range, our insurancedid not allow us to let anyone shoot unless there was someone at least 21 years old in the party. Oh yea, it's 18 to own a handgun. I think it's 16?? to own a long gun.

[CSACANNONEER]

Off topic but I was told you had to be 18 to shoot a RAW, truth or FUD?

Yep, a RAW or a 50BMG rifle. Of course, a 10 year old can legally shoot a .510 DTC or an OLL.

[Sinixstar]

Stuff like this always make me chuckle. No offence.

Last time I was at the range I used to go to in NV - two high school kids rolled up in their subaru. One pulled out a Ruger 10/22, and the other a custom, hand-built .223 bolt gun. Sat down for about 30 minutes, popped some rounds off, got back in their car and drove off. Couldn't have been more than 16 years old.

Nobody even blinked. I even had a chat with one of 'em about 1911s. Kid said he was going to bring his colt out - but he wanted to replace the springs before he shot it anymore.

[jeffreyliu838]

I used to shoot alone at Coyote Point when I was 16. I doubt that any range will let a minor shoot alone now. Also, when I worked at an indoor range, our insurancedid not allow us to let anyone shoot unless there was someone at least 21 years old in the party. Oh yea, it's 18 to own a handgun. I think it's 16?? to own a long gun.

You can actually own a handgun at 18? I thought you had to be 21? And 18 for a long gun?

[Quiet]

You can actually own a handgun at 18? I thought you had to be 21? And 18 for a long gun?

Under CA law...
Legal age to own a handgun = 18
Legal age to buy a handgun = 21

A person aged 18-20 can legally obtain a handgun via intra-familial gift.

[Quiet]

Is it legal for minors + one 18 year old to go to a shooting range? 18 year old owns the gun.

Thanks.

It's legal, but the minors need to have written permission from their parents/legal guardian.



Penal Code 12101
(a)(1) A minor shall not possess a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(A) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves this use of a firearm.
(B) The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, the minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(C) The minor is at least 16 years of age, the minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(D) The minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, the minor is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(b)(1) A minor shall not possess live ammunition.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(A) The minor has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian to possess live ammunition.
(B) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian.
(C) The minor is actively engaged in, or is going to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(c) Every minor who violates this section shall be punished as follows:
(1) By imprisonment in the state prison or in a county jail if one of the following applies:
(A) The minor has been found guilty previously of violating this section.
(B) The minor has been found guilty previously of an offense specified in subdivision (b) of Section 12021.1 or in Section 12020, 12220, 12520, or 12560.
(C) The minor has been found guilty of a violation of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(2) Violations of this section other than those violations specified in paragraph (1) shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(d) In a proceeding to enforce this section brought pursuant to Article 14 (commencing with Section 601) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the court may require the custodial parent or legal guardian of a minor who violates this section to participate in classes on parenting education that meet the requirements established in Section 16507.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(e) As used in this section, "responsible adult" means a person at least 21 years of age who is not within a class of persons prohibited from owning or possessing firearms by virtue of Section 12021 or 12021.1 of this code, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(f) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section or to Section 12078 to expand or narrow the application of current statutory or judicial authority as to the rights of minors to be loaned or to possess live ammunition or a firearm for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of others.

[Datdarkness]

it really matters on the range..
im 16 and go to a range alot, but usually have to have an adult there to sign and stuff for me.

i usually just go out to desert area (where its legal to shoot) with family so we dont have to pay range fee's and all that

[DVSmith]

It's legal, but the minors need to have written permission from their parents/legal guardian.



Penal Code 12101
(a)(1) A minor shall not possess a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(A) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves this use of a firearm.
(B) The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, the minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(C) The minor is at least 16 years of age, the minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(D) The minor has the prior written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian, the minor is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by his or her parent or legal guardian, and the minor is actively engaged in, or is in direct transit to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, or a motion picture, television, or video production, or entertainment or theatrical event, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(b)(1) A minor shall not possess live ammunition.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if one of the following circumstances exists:
(A) The minor has the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian to possess live ammunition.
(B) The minor is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian.
(C) The minor is actively engaged in, or is going to or from, a lawful, recreational sport, including, but not limited to, competitive shooting, or agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity, the nature of which involves the use of a firearm.
(c) Every minor who violates this section shall be punished as follows:
(1) By imprisonment in the state prison or in a county jail if one of the following applies:
(A) The minor has been found guilty previously of violating this section.
(B) The minor has been found guilty previously of an offense specified in subdivision (b) of Section 12021.1 or in Section 12020, 12220, 12520, or 12560.
(C) The minor has been found guilty of a violation of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(2) Violations of this section other than those violations specified in paragraph (1) shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
(d) In a proceeding to enforce this section brought pursuant to Article 14 (commencing with Section 601) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the court may require the custodial parent or legal guardian of a minor who violates this section to participate in classes on parenting education that meet the requirements established in Section 16507.7 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(e) As used in this section, "responsible adult" means a person at least 21 years of age who is not within a class of persons prohibited from owning or possessing firearms by virtue of Section 12021 or 12021.1 of this code, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(f) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting the amendments to this section or to Section 12078 to expand or narrow the application of current statutory or judicial authority as to the rights of minors to be loaned or to possess live ammunition or a firearm for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of others.

I am glad someone finally brought this up. In Boy Scouts, we have a specific firearms permission slip that is required to be signed by the legal guardian/parent any time a youth (under 18) will be involved in shooting sports. I have never been to a range that has not had a similar requirement for any under 18.

If the range is an uncontrolled area, then the youth would be on their own.

[bluestaterebel]

Off topic but I was told you had to be 18 to shoot a RAW, truth or FUD?

True

Oops, are my kids felons?

[Quiet]

Oops, are my kids felons?

Nope. You would be for lending the RAW to them.



Penal Code 12280
(k) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to:
(1) A person who lawfully possesses and has registered an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle pursuant to this chapter who lends that assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle to another if all the following apply:
(A) The person to whom the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is lent is 18 years of age or over and is not in a class of persons prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of Section 12021 or 12021.1 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(B) The person to whom the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifleis lent remains in the presence of the registered possessor of the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle.
(C) The assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is possessed at any of the following locations:
(i) While on a target range that holds a regulatory or business license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range.
(ii) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets.
(iii) While attending any exhibition, display, or educational project that is about firearms and that is sponsored by, conducted under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes education about, firearms.
(2) The return of an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle to the registered possessor, or lawful possessor, which is lent by the same pursuant to paragraph (1).