Risk Area:
Firearms
Target population:
Under 18
Law/Regulation Code:
76-10-509 (guns/minors); 76-10-509.4; 76-10-509.5; 76-10-509.6; 76-10-509.7; 76-10-509.9
Law Summary:
76-10-509. Possession of dangerous weapon by minor.
(1) A minor under 18 years of age may not possess a dangerous weapon unless he:
(a) has the permission of his parent or guardian to have the weapon; or
(b) is accompanied by a parent or guardian while he has the weapon in his possession.
(2) Any minor under 14 years of age in possession of a dangerous weapon shall be accompanied by a responsible adult.
(3) Any person who violates this section is guilty of:
(a) a class B misdemeanor upon the first offense; and
(b) a class A misdemeanor for each subsequent offense.
Amended by Chapter 10, 1993 Special Session 2
76-10-509.4. Prohibition of possession of certain weapons by minors.
(1) A minor under 18 years of age may not possess a handgun.
(2) Except as provided by federal law, a minor under 18 years of age may not possess the following:
(a) a sawed-off rifle or sawed-off shotgun; or
(b) a fully automatic weapon.
(3) Any person who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of:
(a) a class B misdemeanor upon the first offense; and
(b) a class A misdemeanor for each subsequent offense.
(4) Any person who violates Subsection (2) is guilty of a third degree felony.
Amended by Chapter 80, 1995 General Session
76-10-509.5. Penalties for providing certain weapons to a minor.
(1) Any person who provides a handgun to a minor when the possession of the handgun by the minor is a violation of Section 76-10-509.4 is guilty of:
(a) a class B misdemeanor upon the first offense; and
(b) a class A misdemeanor for each subsequent offense.
(2) Any person who transfers in violation of applicable state or federal law a sawed-off rifle, sawed-off shotgun, or fully automatic weapon to a minor is guilty of a third degree felony.
Amended by Chapter 94, 1994 General Session
76-10-509.6. Parent or guardian providing firearm to violent minor.
(1) A parent or guardian may not intentionally or knowingly provide a firearm to, or permit the possession of a firearm by, any minor who has been convicted of a violent felony as defined in Section 76-3-203.5 or any minor who has been adjudicated in juvenile court for an offense which would constitute a violent felony if the minor were an adult.
(2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of:
(a) a class A misdemeanor upon the first offense; and
(b) a third degree felony for each subsequent offense.
Amended by Chapter 303, 2000 General Session
76-10-509.7. Parent or guardian knowing of minor’s possession of dangerous weapon.
Any parent or guardian of a minor who knows that the minor is in possession of a dangerous weapon in violation of Section 76-10-509 or a firearm in violation of Section 76-10-509.4 and fails to make reasonable efforts to remove the firearm from the minor’s possession is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
Enacted by Chapter 10, 1993 Special Session 2
76-10-509.9. Sales of firearms to juveniles.
(1) A person may not sell any firearm to a minor under 18 years of age unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
(2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a third degree felony.
Enacted by Chapter 13, 1993 Special Session 2
