Firearm Eligibility
Federal & Virginia requirements for purchasing and receiving a firearm
✓ Basic Age Requirements
18+
Long Guns
Rifles and shotguns — minimum age to purchase
21+
Handguns & Assault Firearms
Pistols, revolvers, and covered assault firearms — minimum age to purchase
⚠
Virginia HB1525 (effective April 23, 2026): Individuals under 21 may no longer purchase a handgun or covered “assault firearm” in Virginia. The Governor’s reconvened-session amendment (HB1525ER2) added an emergency clause, making this restriction effective immediately upon signing. Possession by 18–20 year olds is not prohibited by this bill — only purchase. See our Gun Laws page for details.
You must be the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm. Purchasing a firearm for someone else (a “straw purchase”) is a federal felony under 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(6).
! Disqualifying Factors
You may NOT purchase or possess a firearm if any of the following apply:
- You are under indictment or information in any court for a felony or a crime punishable by more than one year
- You have been convicted of a felony or any crime punishable by more than one year (even if you received a shorter sentence)
- You are a fugitive from justice
- You are an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, narcotic drugs, or other controlled substances
- You have been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
- You were discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
- You are subject to a court order restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child
- You have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
- You are an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States
- You are an alien admitted under a nonimmigrant visa (with limited exceptions — e.g., valid hunting license holders; lawful permanent residents are not disqualified)
- You have renounced your United States citizenship
A note on the wording above: these are the federal disqualifiers from ATF Form 4473 and 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). The phrasing — including dated terms like “mental defective” — is the federal government’s, not ours. We’ve kept the original language so it matches the form you’ll fill out at the time of transfer.
Important
If you answer “Yes” to any of the above, you may not be eligible to purchase a firearm. Please reach out to us before initiating a purchase so we can advise on next steps. Completing a 4473 with false information is a federal crime.
i Additional Information
- A valid government-issued photo ID is required at the time of transfer — no exceptions
- All transfers require completion of ATF Form 4473 and a NICS background check
- Virginia residents: a Virginia driver’s license or ID is required; out-of-state IDs require a secondary document showing VA residency
- If your background check is delayed, we will contact you — the firearm cannot be released until NICS provides a proceed or the delay period expires per federal law
- If your background check is denied, the firearm will be returned to the seller. Transfer fees are non-refundable as the service was performed
Ready to move forward?
If you’ve reviewed the criteria above and believe you’re eligible, start a transfer or check current pricing below.