05-22-2015, 04:11 PM
(05-22-2015, 02:24 PM)username Wrote: Stupid question alert!!
Can someone under 18 legally "own" a weapon? If not, at minimum THAT should involve some punishment for both the kid and I ALWAYS think that irresponsible parents who don't safely store their weapons (with kids living in their house) should be held accountable for negligence.
If those under18 can legally own/possess a weapon, why?? I can see allowing them to go target shooting or even perhaps hunting with adult supervision but having their own? In their nightstand? Nah. They can't even vote yet.
It's not a stupid question at all.
The answer is frustrating though. It's another case where there is a federal statute (18 ys old to legally possess a handgun; no Fed minimum for long gun) but states have their own laws.
Montana is a gun state; open carry and all. In Montana it's legal for a person 14 or older to be in possession of a loaded long firearm.
The original story didn't state the shooter's age and I thought it was 15; he is actually 17 (two years older than the teen he shot).
The gun was said to be a "family heirloom". If it was a long gun, I believe it was legal for the teen to be in possession of the loaded firearm.
^ All to the best of my understanding.
Shooting the gun (handgun or long gun) under the given circumstances is a separate legal question which the DA's office is considering.