My son, who is a senior in high school, has a birthday coming up, and I know that one thing he would love to have is a 22 pistol. I have been going back on forth on getting him one. I have a few comments and a few questions for you guys regarding this decision.

First of all - he's a great kid. No drugs. No drinking. No discipline issues. Let's just say that he did not acquire the stupid gene that I proudly displayed in my youth.

He's been around rifles and shotguns his whole life, and he and his brother and a couple of other friends will go squirrel or rabbit hunting on their own, and I have never given that a second thought. He's a responsible kid. He has shot all of my hand guns - he takes guns seriously.

My main question about having a pistol would be him transporting it. There is a conservation area just outside of town with a range, and I am sure he'd like to be able to go up there and shoot it. Or just general plinking whatever.

I realize that he can not PURCHASE a handgun, but what are the laws on him POSSESSING a handgun that I (technically) own? I realize that I can buy it and simply restrict it's use to times when I am present, but I really don't want to do that. When I give it to him, I will look at it as a sort of right of passage. I'd still require him to get my approval before he ever leaves the house with it, but other then that, I want him to have pretty much free reign with it.

So what are your thoughts? And what are the legal guidelines?

Oh and any recommendations on make/model? When I was his age, I had a Ruger single six. I loved that little sucker. It had two cylinders - 22lr and 22mag. When I was in college I'd go squirrel hunting with that thing and just have a blast. But I know he'd really love an auto-loader. Thoughts on the whole revolver/auto thing?