Handgun ownership under 21 in Washington State
Under 18
Under 18 possession (but not ownership) is prohibited in most cases by Federal Law.
18 U.S.C. 922(x)
(x) (1) It shall be unlawful for a person to sell,deliver, or otherwise transfer to a person who the
transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a juvenile —
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person who is a juvenile to knowingly possess --
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(3) This subsection does not apply to --
(A) a temporary transfer of a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile or to the possession or use
of a handgun or ammunition by a juvenile if the handgun and ammunition are possessed and used by
the juvenile -
(i) in the course of employment, in the course of ranching or farming related to
activities at the residence of the juvenile (or on property used for ranching or farming at which
the juvenile, with the permission of the property owner or lessee, is performing activities related
to the operation of the farm or ranch), target practice, hunting, or a course of instruction in
the safe and lawful use of a handgun;
(ii) with the prior written consent of the juvenile’s parent or guardian who is not
prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing a firearm, except --
(I) during transportation by the juvenile of an unloaded handgun in a locked
container directly from the place of transfer to a place at which an activity described in
clause (i) is to take place and transportation by the juvenile of that handgun,
unloaded and in a locked container directly from the place at which such an
activity took place to the transferor; or
(II) with respect to ranching or farming activities as described in clause (i), a
juvenile may possess and use a handgun or ammunition with the prior written
approval of the juvenile’s parent or legal guardian and at the direction of an adult
who is not prohibited by Federal, State or local law from possessing a firearm;
(iii) the juvenile has the prior written consent in the juvenile’s possession at all
times when a handgun is in the possession of the juvenile; and
(iv) in accordance with State and local law;
(B) a juvenile who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the
National Guard who possesses or is armed with a handgun in the line of duty;
(C) a transfer by inheritance of title (but not possession) of a handgun or ammunition to a
juvenile; or
(D) the possession of a handgun or ammunition by a juvenile taken in defense of
the juvenile or other persons against an intruder into the residence of the juvenile or a residence
in which the juvenile is an invited guest.
(4) A handgun or ammunition, the possession of which is transferred to a juvenile in
circumstances in which the transferor is not in violation of this subsection shall not be subject
to permanent confiscation by the Government if its possession by the juvenile subsequently
becomes unlawful because of the conduct of the juvenile, but shall be returned to the lawful
owner when such handgun or ammunition is no longer required by the Government for the
purposes of investigation or prosecution.
(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “juvenile” means a person who is less than 18
years of age.
(6) (A) In a prosecution of a violation of this subsection, the court shall require the presence of
a juvenile defendant’s parent or legal guardian at all proceedings.
(B) The court may use the contempt power to enforce subparagraph (A).
(C) The court may excuse attendance of a parent or legal guardian of a juvenile defendant at a
proceeding in a prosecution of a violation of this subsection for good cause shown.
Under 21
Sale by FFL licensees is still prohibited, but the possession is regulated by State Law.
RCW 9.41.240
Possession of pistol by person from eighteen to twenty-one.
Unless an exception under RCW 9.41.042, 9.41.050, or 9.41.060 applies, a person at least eighteen years of age,
but less than twenty-one years of age, may possess a pistol only:
(1) In the person's place of abode;
(2) At the person's fixed place of business; or
(3) On real property under his or her control.
Exceptions are for hunting, target practice, and professional need (military/police service, firearms repairs etc).
References