Q: As an out of state resident, can a person 18-21 privately purchase and apply for a CCW for a handgun?

A: Unfortunately, based on Indiana law, it does not appear that an 18-21 year old non-resident would be able to privately purchase a handgun or obtain an Indiana concealed carry permit. Here are the key reasons:

• Private handgun purchases - Federal law prohibits federally licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to anyone under 21. There is an exception in some states for private sales, but Indiana law similarly prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun in most situations.

• Concealed carry permits - In Indiana, you must be 21 years old to apply for an initial concealed carry license. Indiana's laws state that applicants must be "a resident of the United States" but there does not appear to be an allowance for non-resident concealed permits for those aged 18-21.

• Open carry - While Indiana residents over 18 can legally open carry without a permit, that allowance does not apply to non-residents. Non-resident open carry would still require obtaining an Indiana concealed carry license, which has the 21-year minimum age.

So, in summary, unless the 18-21 year old non-resident fell into a special exemption under federal and Indiana gun laws (such as military service), they would not be able to legally purchase or carry pistols in Indiana until age 21. The state requirements focus concealed carry eligibility on Indiana residency, rather than non-resident eligibility. Hopefully this gives clarity on what state law and key age requirements permit