States can raise these minimum ages but cannot lower them below the federal standard. As of 2026, several states have stricter rules:
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) , these are the federal minimum ages: legal age to buy a gun
: You must be at least 21 years old to purchase a handgun or handgun ammunition from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). States can raise these minimum ages but cannot