527.100 Possession of handgun by minor

527.100 Possession of handgun by minor.

(1) A person is guilty of possession of a handgun by a minor when, being under the age

of eighteen (18) years, he possesses, manufactures, or transports a handgun as

defined by KRS 527.010, except when the person is:

(a) In attendance at a hunter's safety course or a firearms safety course;

(b) Engaging in practice in the use of a firearm, or target shooting at an

established firing range, or any other area where the discharge of a firearm is

not prohibited;

(c) Engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm, or

participating in or practicing for a performance by a group organized under

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor thereto

which uses firearms as a part of the performance;

(d) Hunting or trapping pursuant to a valid license issued to him pursuant to the

statutes or administrative regulations of this Commonwealth;

(e) Traveling to or from any activity described in paragraphs (a) to (d) of this

subsection with any unloaded handgun in his possession;

(f) On real property which is under the control of an adult and has the permission

of that adult and his parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun; or

(g) At his residence and with the permission of his parent or legal guardian

possesses a handgun and is justified under the principles of justification set

forth in KRS Chapter 503 in using physical force or deadly physical force.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a handgun is "loaded" if:

(a) There is a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun; or

(b) There is a cartridge in the cylinder of the handgun, if the handgun is a

revolver; or

(c) There is a cartridge in the magazine of a semiautomatic handgun, if the

magazine is attached to the handgun; or

(d) The handgun and the ammunition for the handgun, are carried on the person

of one under the age of eighteen (18) years or are in such close proximity to

him that he could readily gain access to the handgun and the ammunition and

load the handgun.

(3) Possession of a handgun by a minor is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense

and a Class D felony for each subsequent offense.