United States: The nationwide prohibition against selling handguns to people aged 18-20 lost its legal validity when a federal appeals court made a ruling in favor of constitutionality on Thursday.
More about the news
Three judges from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans determined that a federal law that restricts 18-20-year-olds from purchasing handguns breaks the Second Amendment protection.
According to the court’s opinion, “Ultimately, the text of the Second Amendment includes eighteen-to-twenty-year-old individuals among ‘the people’ whose right to keep and bear arms is protected,” Fox News reported.
The ruling emerged during a period where multiple gun regulations faced dismissal after the Supreme Court passed its pivotal decision supporting gun rights in 2022.
The appeals court previously supported the handgun purchasing requirement that adults needed to reach the age of 21.
Judges now need to verify whether challenged firearms limitations hold solid roots within historical United States traditions under Supreme Court precedent Bruen.
Judges from Minnesota plus Virginia, together with Texas, have concluded that state handgun purchase restrictions for young adults fail the constitutional standard.
The Trump administration shows more support for gun rights, while the Biden administration attempts to oppose these gun-related court decisions.
President Donald Trump stated at a National Rifle Association event last year during the presidential campaign, “No one will lay a finger on your firearms,” Fox News reported.
What more are the experts stating?
Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley predicts the Trump administration will not file an appeal against the Fifth Circuit ruling, thus preventing the Supreme Court from potentially hearing the case.
As per Turley in his post on X, “For gun rights advocates, it may have been better if this decision had been handed down during the Biden Administration,” Fox News reported.
“The Trump Administration will likely support the ruling and not appeal to the Supreme Court. Such an appeal could have extended this precedent nationally,” he added.
Last year, the Supreme Court maintained a national gun law in effect. The Supreme Court changed a decision from the 5th Circuit when it maintained a law that safeguards domestic violence victims.
The Second Amendment Foundation, together with the Louisiana Shooting Association, joined two members of FPC to fight the law through legal action.