Handgun law in virginia?

I am a 19 year old Commonwealth of Virginia resident. I want to own a handgun. I know that you have to be 21 to buy a handgun but I heard somewhere that you only have to be 18 to possess a handgun but someone 21 or over has to buy it for you. The reason is because I want to become a law enforcement officer and I am taking a firearms cl. So on my free time I want to be able to go to the range, but don't want to use a shotgun or something else kind of big. I want to practice with a handgun but dont know the laws can someone help?