A conservative federal appeals court has ruled that a federal law banning the sale of handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional. The decision, made by a panel of Republican appointees on the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, is the latest major ruling against an age-based firearm restriction and comes as the Supreme Court is considering how the Second Amendment applies to older teens.
The ruling pointed to the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling known as Bruen, which established a historical test for assessing the constitutionality of gun restrictions. The 5th Circuit’s ruling said that the federal government has presented scant evidence that 18- to 20-year-olds’ firearm rights during the founding-era were restricted in a similar manner to the contemporary federal handgun purchase ban.
The decision is seen as a significant blow to efforts to restrict access to firearms by young adults, and is part of a larger trend of appeals courts showing hostility towards gun prohibitions aimed at 18- to 20-year-olds. Defenders of the laws argue that research shows young adults are more likely to commit gun violence, and that some laws were passed after high-profile shootings by teenagers.
The Supreme Court has not directly addressed how to apply the Second Amendment’s protections to young adults in light of its recent precedents. However, some state officials have asked the high court to review lower court rulings on the issue.
