A return to Cowboy days with people wearing sidearms?

Mass shootings are likely to bring this, especially in the western and southern part of the U.S. Because gun culture never died here. It has faded in big cities even in the west but it hasn't died. So, because of the war in the middle east and terrorists in the U.S. and crazies shooting up schools the likely outcome in the west and south is teachers and high school students or college age students 21 or older with pistols or rifles in lockers or in the school or concealed as weapons if the people are over 21.However, schools, cities, counties and states have individual laws too. So, be sure you are doing what is legal that you won't be prosecuted for eventually.

However, when I actually researched this it is ONLY a handgun that is illegal to sell to a minor (under federal law) because a long gun (rifle or shotgun) is legal for a person of any age to have if we are only speaking of federal law. This goes back to when I was given my own rifle and ammunition at age 8 in 1956 of a .22 rifle my father used in the 1920s onwards for hunting. My grandmother gave me my father's gun when I was 8. He started hunting at age 6 and his brother 4 with a woodsman .22 pistol with their older brother 9 or 10 who had a shotgun. They hunted alone without adult supervision then likely around 1922 in Coos Bay Oregon. I always stored my own rifle from age 8 on in my room and was given bullets too in my bedroom (to help protect the family) this was an honor given to boys who were considered to be responsible for hundreds of years here in the U.S. So, if your relative gave you a rifle they expected you to grow up and actually be something. If they didn't they thought you weren't responsible. This is the way it always was and sometimes still is. But, if you shot someone they might shoot you too or beat you until you were dead. This was a responsibility and not a right always.

You will notice there is no minimum age for possessing (not owning) a hand gun  or long gun in:

Arizona17

Arkansas18

California19

Connecticut

Delaware Louisiana38 Maine39 Mississippi48 Missouri49 North Dakota58 Ohio59 South Carolina67 Texas68 Vermont70 So, to make sense of all this you have to combine federal laws with state laws to make full sense of what is happening where you live. Then of course there are city or even county laws that you have to adhere to also wherever you live. In addition Schools (high school, college or Junior high or grade schools also might have rules or laws about this sort of thing too)

Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Firearms Policy Summary

Posted on October 1, 2013

Federal law in this area distinguishes between long guns (rifles and shotguns) and handguns, and between gun possession and gun sales.  Federal law also distinguishes between licensed and unlicensed gun sellers.
Minimum Age for Gun Sales and Transfers: 

Under federal law –	Handguns	Long Guns (Rifles and Shotguns)
Licensed firearms dealers	Dealers may not sell or deliver a handgun or ammunition for a handgun to any person the dealer has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21.8	Dealers may not sell or deliver a long gun, or ammunition for a long gun, to any person the dealer has reasonable cause to believe is under age 18.9
Unlicensed persons	Unlicensed persons may not sell, deliver or otherwise transfer a handgun or handgun ammunition to any person the transferor has reasonable cause to believe is  under age 18, with certain exceptions*.10	Unlicensed persons may sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer a long gun or long gun ammunition to a person of any age. The following is the minimum ages for firearms in the 50 states: Minimum Ages for Firearms State Purchase of a Handgun13 Purchase of a Long Gun Possession of a Handgun14 Possession of a Long Gun Alaska15 18 18 1616 Arizona17 18 18 Arkansas18 18 18 California19 21 18 Connecticut 2120 1821 2122 Delaware 2123 1824 D.C.25 21 21 2126 2127 Florida28 18 18 1829 Hawaii30 21 21 21 18 Idaho31 18 18 1832 Illinois33 21 21 2134 2135 Indiana 1836 Iowa37 21 18 21 18 Louisiana38 18 18 Maine39 18 16 Maryland40 2141 18 2142 Massachusetts43 21 1844 2145 Michigan 1846 Minnesota 1647 Mississippi48 18 Missouri49 18 18 Montana 1450 Nevada51 18 1852 New Jersey53 21 18 21 18 New Mexico 1954 New York55 21 2156 1657 North Dakota58 18 Ohio59 21 18 Oklahoma60 18 18 18 Oregon61 18 18 1862 Pennsylvania63 18 18 1864 Rhode Island65 21 18 1866 South Carolina67 18 Texas68 18 18 Utah 1869 Vermont70 16 16 Washington 1871 Wisconsin72 18 18 end quote from: Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Firearms Policy Summary 1873