Missouri prohibits “recklessly” selling, leasing, loaning, giving away or delivering any firearm to a person under age 18 without the consent of the child’s custodial parent or guardian.1

Missouri also prohibits anyone from violating the federal law prohibiting anyone from selling or transferring a handgun or handgun ammunition to a person under age 18.2

Federal law imposes stricter age restrictions in certain situations.


  1. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.060.1(2). A person “acts recklessly” or is reckless under Missouri law when he or she consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow, and such disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 562.016.4 ⤴︎
  2. See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.080, which refers to 18 U.S.C. § 922(x). ⤴︎