Federal Court Rules Handgun Sales Ban for 18-20-Year-Olds Unconstitutional

The Circuit Court of Appeals found the decades-old restriction violated the Second Amendment and lacked historical precedent.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously struck down a federal law prohibiting licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to individuals aged 18 to 20.
The court cited the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, which requires modern gun laws to align with the nation's historical firearm regulation traditions.
Judges ruled that the Second Amendment includes 18- to 20-year-olds among 'the people' with the right to bear arms, referencing their militia service during the nation's founding era.
The decision overturns a 2012 ruling upholding the ban and remands the case to a lower court for further proceedings, with potential for Supreme Court review.
Gun control advocates criticized the ruling, citing public safety concerns, while gun rights groups hailed it as a significant victory for Second Amendment protections.