Mature, 18-year old wants to buy rifle to start hobby in firearms?

by **sheridan93** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:36 pm

I am a mature 18-year old who wants to buy a rifle to start a hobby in firearms. I go to college, I work, and I pay for most of the things I own excluding the house I live in with my parents. I don't drink, do drugs or party and I've never been in trouble with the law, with school or anyone for that matter.

My parents are concerned about having a weapon in the house, and the safety aspect of it. I intend to use the firearm only for range use, not for self defense and I will not ever have the weapon loaded in the house. In fact, I've thought of going so far as to make sure I don't even have ammunition in the house.

I want to respect my parents wishes, and help them understand what it means to have a firearm in the house while also being responsible and having such privileges, especially as an adult.

What are some ways I can help my parents reason with my request, and encourage them to allow me to purchase such an item?

by **tanishia** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:37 pm

I am a mature 18-year old who wants to buy a rifle to start a hobby in firearms. I go to college, I work, and I pay for most of the things I own excluding the house I live in with my parents. I don't drink, do drugs or party and I've never been in trouble with the law, with school or anyone for that matter.

My parents are concerned about having a weapon in the house, and the safety aspect of it. I intend to use the firearm only for range use, not for self defense and I will not ever have the weapon loaded in the house. In fact, I've thought of going so far as to make sure I don't even have ammunition in the house.

I want to respect my parents wishes, and help them understand what it means to have a firearm in the house while also being responsible and having such privileges, especially as an adult.

What are some ways I can help my parents reason with my request, and encourage them to allow me to purchase such an item?

by **jung-hwa75** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:44 pm

I am a mature 18-year old who wants to buy a rifle to start a hobby in firearms. I go to college, I work, and I pay for most of the things I own excluding the house I live in with my parents. I don't drink, do drugs or party and I've never been in trouble with the law, with school or anyone for that matter.

My parents are concerned about having a weapon in the house, and the safety aspect of it. I intend to use the firearm only for range use, not for self defense and I will not ever have the weapon loaded in the house. In fact, I've thought of going so far as to make sure I don't even have ammunition in the house.

I want to respect my parents wishes, and help them understand what it means to have a firearm in the house while also being responsible and having such privileges, especially as an adult.

What are some ways I can help my parents reason with my request, and encourage them to allow me to purchase such an item?

The best way is to take a firearms safety course. Also, the house is much safer with a gun inside. Maybe see if you can get a .22 first.

Russ in NOVA has a good point. You know how much the media influences people? While a S&W M&P 15 is just a semi auto .22, some people( maybe your mom) will not want them around the house, just because of how it looks, and the way media talks about these style of "Killing Machines"
Perhaps start with a used Marlin 60, a hundred bucks used, then maybe you can move up.

by **naseem** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:47 pm

Buy a safe and let your parents have the combo/key code. Just an idea.

by **jabarl** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:06 pm

i'd say if your 18 you dont need their permission to buy a rifle .. keep it locked in the trunk of your car or something .. if its their house and they dont want a gun in it then that is their call .. get your own place .. probably better putting your money towards being a 'mature' adult instead of living with mommy and daddy .. but yeah, you have to respect their house and rules while your being supported by them ..

by **rushford79** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:12 pm

You are 18 and therefore legally an adult, so you can buy a rifle if you want and it doesn't matter whether your are mature or immature. I would suggest that you look for a Basic Rifle course in your area and try to talk one of your parents into taking it along with you. Here is an NRA search that might help you find a course: http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx

It would also help to find out if they have specific concerns that you can address individually, but the bottom line is their house, their rules. You are 18, so you should be planning to fly the coup sometime in the next 4 years anyway and might have to wait til then.

EDIT: Your choice a guns (M&P 15-22) may make them uncomfortable as well. If you are serious about wanting to learn to target shoot, then I would suggest a rifle that that looks like a hunting target rifle rather than one that looks like a tactical rifle. I am going to suggest that you purchase a Ruger 10/22 or Savage Mark III. They are less expensive as well. (Besides once you get the 10/22 in the house you can dress it up with all kinds of tacticool stock options on the market.)

If they made you sign a lease and the lease doesn't forbid firearms, then you don't have to worry about what your parents think.

by **lintun** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:14 pm

Perhaps if you are just using it for target shooting, you should not refer to it as a weapon. Do you refer to a bar stool as a weapon even though most people just sit on them and get drunk? I purchased and gave my oldest son his first two long guns when he was 10. I think it is weird that you claim to be mature. It does make me wonder. It could be that your parents are hoplophobes or don't have the same opinion about your maturity that you do.

by **hyun-su** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:22 pm

go buy one........also buy a gun cabinet if ur parents are worried........can get a cheapo metal locking gun cabinet for 80 bucks at most sporting goods stores......

** ur 18 AND on the lease....ur parents can't legally stop u.......

by **ring** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:27 pm

Your 18.. Nobody cares if your mature, at your age you can legally buy a firearm.
But, declaring that you will not use the firearm for self defense is down right idiotic.. If you're getting a gun, be responsible and shoot someone if they need to be shot..

by **jung-hwa75** » Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:35 pm

Your a baffoon.
Idiots like you make this world a unsafer place

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