Legal age to target shoot alone?

[spook22]

Hi all I am in Pennsylvania and am 16. I just wanted to know what the legal age is to shoot at a range without adult supervision? I know it is legal to have possession of a rifle without supervision for hunting at my age but what about target shooting and transporting the rifle to the range alone? Thanks for any help guys!

 

[ATBackPackin]

How old must one be to possess a firearm?

Per 18 Pa.C.S. § 6110.1 (Possession of firearm by minor), the minimum age to possess a firearm is 18 with two exceptions:
1. The minor is under the supervision of a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or an adult acting with the expressed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian and involved in lawful activity.
2. The minor is lawfully involved in hunting or trapping activities.

Found this information here.

 

[spook22]

Darn, that really sucks. Guess I will have to find someone to go with.

 

[Owen Sparks]

What if you are on family land?

 

[NavyLCDR]

How old must one be to possess a firearm?

Per 18 Pa.C.S. § 6110.1 (Possession of firearm by minor), the minimum age to possess a firearm is 18 with two exceptions:
1. The minor is under the supervision of a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or an adult acting with the expressed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian and involved in lawful activity.
2. The minor is lawfully involved in hunting or trapping activities.

Found this information here.

I would suggest that you look at the ACTUAL statute from the Pensylvania Government website. The actual statute reads slightly differently:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/18.HTM

§ 6110.1. Possession of firearm by minor.

(a) Firearm.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a person under 18 years of age shall not possess or transport a firearm anywhere in this Commonwealth.

(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to a person under 18 years of age:

(1) who is under the supervision of a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or an adult acting with the expressed consent of the minor's custodial parent or legal guardian and the minor is engaged in lawful activity, including safety training, lawful target shooting, engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm or the firearm is unloaded and the minor is transporting it for a lawful purpose; or

(2) who is lawfully hunting or trapping in accordance with 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game).

(c) Responsibility of adult.--Any person who knowingly and intentionally delivers or provides to the minor a firearm in violation of subsection (a) commits a felony of the third degree.

(d) Forfeiture.--Any firearm in the possession of a person under 18 years of age in violation of this section shall be promptly seized by the arresting law enforcement officer and upon conviction or adjudication of delinquency shall be forfeited or, if stolen, returned to the lawful owner.

There seems to be no exception to the statute for being on your/your family's land.

 

[spook22]

Thanks for the info. Wow Our laws need to be re evaluated. So I can go hunting on my land alone but cannot target shoot? Does this make any sense to you guys?

 

[bearcreek]

Nobody ever accused the Federal or State governments of being the most logical organizations around. You could go rabbit hunting and end up missing and by mistake hitting a piece of paper with a dot and rings on it.

 

[spook22]

Nobody ever accused the Federal or State governments of being the most logical organizations around. You could go rabbit hunting and end up missing and by mistake hitting a piece of paper with a dot and rings on it.

Ha, I've been doing that on our land for some time now..............

 

[Hanzo581]

A gun law that doesn't make sense? Naw.....

 

[A strange person]

When you hear the police sirens, it means target practice is over and it's time to go hiking.

 

[spook22]

When you hear the police sirens, it means target practice is over and it's time to go hiking.

Agreed. HA

 

[Jeffhole]

In my state (Colorado) I believe you can shoot rifles by yourself at 16 as long as you're in national forest, 18 for handguns. I could be wrong though, I'm almost 30, haven't had to worry about it in a while.

 

[spook22]

Is it legal to hunt paper without supervision?

 

[bearcreek]

The dilemma is caused by the inconsistency in laws. In Ohio, according to the ODNR, it's perfectly legal for someone 16 years old to deer hunt with a shotgun alone, but technically, according to the ORC, they can't be in possession of a firearm unless they're with an adult. When it comes down to it I think you should base your decision on what is most likely to be enforced. It's normal, accepted and as far as the game wardens and police are concerned, legal here for 16-17 years olds to hunt by themselves. Same with target shooting. If you're doing it in an appropriate area in a safe manner you are highly unlikely to be bothered. In my area, the 16-17 year olds sight in their deer guns and target shoot by themselves all the time. Only time anyone gets in trouble is if they're doing something that would get anyone else in trouble, regardless of age.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Again, what if you are on family owned land?

 

[bearcreek]

In Ohio, legally, it makes no difference. Now, like I said, the chances of it being a problem , especially on privately owned land are slim to none, as long as the person doesn't draw undue attention to themselves.

 

[Legionnaire]

(1) who is under the supervision of a parent, grandparent, legal guardian or an adult acting with the expressed consent of the minor's custodial parent or legal guardian and the minor is engaged in lawful activity, including safety training, lawful target shooting ...

So what constitutes being "under the supervision" of a parent or other legal guardian? If you are on your own private land, and your Dad says "You have my permission to target shoot out back," would that qualify? The statute doesn't say "direct supervision," which would suggest the parent or legal guardian must be physically present, whereas the hunting regulations refer to youth being "accompanied" while hunting. I'd think that if you were on your own land with the permission of your legal guardian, you should be good to go.

But I am not a lawyer.

 

[hermannr]

I would suggest you read the whole of the hunting and fishing law, and the whole of the firearm law, not just a single section. Look for exceptions, and look for lack of prohibitions.

I would be of the opinion from what I read that if you are on your own land, and have permission of your parents, you would be ok. That should be supervision enough. Contra that, buy a small game hunting license. In WA we have a specific provision for your own land.

I would also be of the opinion that if you were to go to a proper range to target shoot, you would need to be with someone over 18.

The reason I would look at the whole law is: example, WA state RCW 9.41 is the main firearms law. (F&W is different, and in another section)

RCW 9.41.042 is specifically about "children" and firearms possession....(definded as under 18 years old)...however...RCW 9.41.060(8) must also apply to under 18 as it says "any person" and does not restrict to that the person must be an adult.

Read the whole law..there may be an exception that is not in the part that juvenile specific part of the law. That said, just because I can say, sure you can, and like CO, public land also....if you are here in WA,,,,I cannot say the same for PA because I do not know PA laws that well.

 

[mortablunt]

I think it's 18 to use range facilities legally. Unfortunately, a lot of places require that you be 21 to rent firearms, buy ammo from them, or just use the place. I sure hope you have a good adult shooting buddy.

 

[WALKERs210]

I am soooo glad that I grew up in the 50's. In the summer it was nothing to see half the towns boys heading off to the garbage dump to shoot rats or snakes. Most of us were in the 12 to 17 yrs group. Also my mother never locked her car or house either..