The state high court rules that it is legal for people as young as 18 to own a handgun, finding an earlier ban unconstitutional.
Those in support of the ruling say if someone at 18 is considered a legal adult, can serve in the military, they should be allowed to own a handgun.

The right to bear arms guaranteed by law but at times restricted by age. In South Carolina, 18 year olds used to be able to own a handgun, a rifle, or a shotgun. Then the law pushed handgun ownership to 21. The Supreme Court ruling brings the law back to 18.

“If state and federal law says you are fully comprehensible at 18, you should have all the rights of full citizenship,” said ATP Gun Shop owner Arlyn Pendergast.

Pendergast is a card carrying member of the NRA and a gun shop owner. He says when it comes to gun control; the criminals find a way regardless of age.

“They are buying guns off the street, stealing them, the background check is the same if your 18 or 21 years old,” said Pendergast.

Owning a gun, of course, comes with responsibility. He says it’s important for parents to teach the dangers of these weapons.

“A gun is an extreme responsibility, it's like a car, you misuse a car and you can kill an awful lot of people,” said Pendergast.

It is still illegal for 18-20 year olds to buy a handgun from a public dealer. But, a state law signed in April does allow private individuals to sell handguns to people 18 and older. The ruling brings South Carolina in line with federal law, which allows 18 year olds to own a handgun.

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