New gun law makes it illegal for adults under 21 to purchase long guns

REDDING, Calif. — As soon as January 1 hit, it became illegal in California for anyone under the age of 21 to buy a long gun. Before that, the legal age was 18.

Before January 1, a person could buy a long gun: meaning a shotgun, hunting rifle, or semi-automatic Armalite (A-R) at 18-years-old. Now the age restraint for purchasing a long gun in California is 21, the same as buying a handgun.

Marshall Jones, owner and certified firearms instructor at Jone's Fort in Redding, said the new law changed his clientele overnight.

"It's reduced our pool of potential customers but people that are serious about it, they'll get their hunting license so they can buy," Jones said.

There are exceptions to the law.

For example, a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, may purchase a long gun.

The new law will also not impact the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:

1. An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment.
2. An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment.
3. A reserve peace officer, as defined in Section 832.6, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment as a reserve peace officer.
4. A person who provides proper identification of his or her active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subparagraph, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an active member.
5. A person who provides proper identification that he or she is an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subparagraph, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.

Jones says it is more work for gun owners but those who want to purchase guns will make the effort.

"If they hunt then they have been around firearms probably for many years already, under the supervision of their parents. They should already have some experience but I think 18 is old enough to have responsibility even if they haven't been hunting. I think the powers at be in California would like to remove all guns from the marketplace and this is one step closer to that," said Jones.

Jones says new gun laws come into play every year and gun owners who want to obey the law have a lot to keep up with, often coming in to buy the same gun but with modifications after a new law.

For example, an A-R can be modified with either a fixed magazine, meaning you have to disassemble the gun before you can reload, or a featureless grip so that it is not considered an assault weapon.

However, Jones says these restraints to gun owners only limit law abiding citizens. They do not make the world any safer.

"A-R rifles, the black rifles, are very popular, especially with the younger crowd but there really no more dangerous than any other gun on the rack up behind me. All of the guns are equally dangerous or equally safe. It's up to the owner," Jones added.

Jones and other gun owners in the Northstate have called the new slew of laws a "slippery slope" when it comes to their second amendment, worried about the long term effect.

"If somebody is mature enough to go into the military and fight for their country and die for their country at 18, why shouldn't they be able to own a firearm. People have to be responsible for their actions and their use of guns and I don't see why an 18-year-old couldn't be responsible," Jones said.