A U.S. appeals court has made a significant ruling against a federal law that required young adults to be 21 years old to purchase handguns, deeming it a violation of the Second Amendment. The decision was delivered by a panel of three judges on the conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. This ruling comes at a time of notable changes in the national firearm legal landscape following a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022 that expanded gun rights.
The court's ruling stated that individuals aged 18 to 20 should not be restricted from buying firearms. The judges emphasized that the text of the Second Amendment includes young adults in this age group among 'the people' whose right to keep and bear arms is safeguarded. Consequently, the case has been remanded to a lower court judge for further proceedings.
Historically, the appeals court had upheld the age restriction. However, recent legal developments, including the Supreme Court's assertion that firearm regulations must align with the nation's historical traditions, have led judges in various states such as Minnesota, Virginia, and Texas to strike down similar laws. The Biden administration had opposed these rulings, while the stance of the Trump administration remains uncertain.
Notable organizations challenging the ban on handgun purchases by young adults included the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Louisiana Shooting Association. Advocates of the ruling argue that if young adults can be entrusted to defend the country, they should also be allowed to own legal firearms.
Under current federal law, individuals must be 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer and 18 to purchase a long gun from a dealer. The minimum age for buying handguns from unlicensed sellers is 18, while there is no minimum age requirement for long gun purchases.
However, critics of the ruling, such as the Giffords Law Center, have expressed concerns, labeling the decision as reckless. They argue that age restrictions play a crucial role in preventing violence. The legal director of the Giffords Law Center, David Pucino, expressed hope that the existing law will ultimately be upheld.
