I’m 16 and spend a LOT of time in the mountains for long camping trips. I usually take my bow with me since I’m not old enough to own a gun but have had a couple instances where it really hit home to me that if I run into a cougar, a bear, or some wolves, my bow won’t be able to do sh*t for me. So my next option is a gun. I am very well skilled in survival techniques and I just need something that will provide me with some firepower for tough spots. The issue is that my parent’s aren’t the most fond of guns, have never been gun owners, and the idea of them buying a gun to let me use in the mountains is ridiculously out of the question, they don’t however, mind me using them, they are just fanatically against having them under their roof. So I was wondering if it would be ok if I had a friend (that they approve of) by the gun for me, keep it at his place till I’m old enough to own it, and let me use it when I go out in the mountains in the meantime. I’m interested in a revolver or pistol, maybe a .357 model 686, as I’d prefer not to have to tote around anything to large since I have my hands full with other gear, but I would love to take an AR-15 if possible, I could tolerate the pains of heavy weight for such a great shtf/survival gun (though I doubt reality will be so kind as to allow me that). Can you give me any feedback?

Worst case scenario, if neither of those guns are an option to me, the handgun for obvious reasons, and the AR-15 because of it being a civilians version of an assault (though I don’t know how that would apply) What would be my next best option? I’m assuming there has to be at least some gun I can take with me, given the necessary permits or classes.

If you could tell me whether or not I could somehow get a permit or something of the sort that allowed me to carry one of those guns with me in the mountains, and how I would go about it if so, I would be most appreciative.
Mrs. St. Evans, thank you for you quick response, I have another question though,
You said it would still be illegal because I would still technically be the owner, (thats if I read right, I am a bit dyslexic though) but if a friend or relative was the legal owner, and it literally was his gun (he had it at his place, he used it, all that), and I just chose it and paid for it, then wouldn’t it be the same as me just borrowing a gun from a family friend? With the exception of course, that he would gift it to me when I was old enough? I’m just not seeing how I would be considered the owner. My parents would even buy the gun for me, they just don’t want it in the house, if they bought it would it be ok if I had it kept at a friends or relatives and used it? Is there any class I can take or permit my parents could sign that would allow me to use it without their supervision?

Of course, I do not want to, and will not do, anything illegal. I’d just like to feel a bit more safe when I’m in
the mountains, because ultimately, I love the mountains too much to stop going, if I had to fight a bear with a wooden spear I’d do it, but needless to say I would prefer that it didn’t come to that.
looking at your source:

TITLE 18
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
CHAPTER 33
FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS
18-3302A.Sale of weapons to minors. It shall be unlawful to directly or indirectly sell to any minor under the age of eighteen (18) years any weapon without the written consent of the parent or guardian of the minor. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not in excess of six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. As used in this section, “weapon” shall mean any dirk, dirk knife, bowie knife, dagger, pistol, revolver or gun.”

So then if my parents signed permission, could I buy an AR-15 or handgun? If I could, how would that affect the rules of my using it afterwards? Would I still need to be under their supervision?