To purchase a gun in Pennsylvania, you must be either 18 or 21 years old, depending on what kind of gun you are buying. You have to pass a background check by the State Police and you must not be otherwise ineligible to purchase or possess a firearm.
This question of eligibility is fact specific. It goes beyond whether or not you were ever convicted of a crime. I have had clients that had mental health episodes that didn’t realize that their short hospital stay years ago made them ineligible to buy a gun.
Criminal convictions, mental health commitments, drugs issues, alcohol issues, immigration status, and PFA’s can all make someone ineligible to buy a gun.
If you have a question whether or not you are eligible to purchase a gun, don’t just trust google. Speak with an attorney that knows the law. If you are an ineligible person and you attempt to buy a gun, you can face felony or misdemeanor charges.
If you have any questions about the topic discussed in this article, or any other legal matter, please give us a call at Bononi & Company 724-832-2499.