Competing rulings on under 21 handgun sales could put issue before Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is poised to potentially make a landmark decision on whether individuals under the age of 21 should have the right to purchase handguns. This decision could have significant implications for federal gun laws that have been in place for decades.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which leans towards the right, recently struck down the federal ban on handgun purchases for individuals aged 18 to 20. This decision came after the 10th Circuit upheld the same prohibition in November. Additionally, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is currently reviewing a Virginia district court judge’s ruling that ended the age-limit ban.
Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, believes that with conflicting decisions from different circuit courts, there is a strong possibility that the Supreme Court will take up the issue. This could lead to a significant shift in the nation’s gun laws.
The federal ban on handgun sales to individuals under the age of 21 was established in 1968 as part of the Gun Control Act. However, recent legal challenges have called into question the constitutionality of this restriction. The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen set a precedent that laws restricting gun sales should align more closely with the text and history of the Second Amendment.
In the wake of the Bruen decision, there has been a surge in lawsuits challenging age limits on handgun sales. The Second Amendment Foundation has been at the forefront of these legal battles, filing suits in multiple states to overturn bans on handgun sales to young adults under 21. Despite facing ongoing challenges in states like Massachusetts and Connecticut, the foundation has had a track record of success in similar cases.
The Fifth Circuit’s decision to strike down the federal ban on handgun sales to individuals under 21 cited the Supreme Court’s Bruen ruling as a key factor. This decision, along with similar rulings in other circuit courts, has created a growing momentum towards a potential Supreme Court review of the issue.
As the debate over age limits on handgun sales continues to unfold, it is clear that the Supreme Court may soon weigh in on this contentious issue. This decision could have far-reaching implications for gun laws in the United States and could reshape the way in which the Second Amendment is interpreted.
