Minimum age for buying a handgun is constant at federal level, while possession age varies among states.

Whether it’s sports teams, climate, people or food, all 50 states lay claim to being the best. Never ending debates don’t produce a definitive winner. The answer, as with beauty, art, and just about anything else, lies in the eyes of the beholder. 

Not so with the minimum age to purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer. New York might lay claim to the best bagels, California the prettiest beaches, and Maine the tastiest lobster, but they’re in total agreement on the handgun purchase age.

That age is 21, following the mandate of the federal government, which regulates all handgun purchases. Similar to the age restriction for purchase, the issue of a handgun to those under the age of 21 is strict in all 50 states and is more difficult than for long guns.

According to Giffords.org, there are 29 states allowing possession of a handgun to individuals 18 and older. They range from Oregon to Georgia, Maine to Utah. Alaska and Vermont allow handgun possession to individuals 16 and older. New Mexico’s minimum age for handgun possession is 19.

The states and the minimum age for purchasing a handgun from an unlicensed dealer are as follows: