DOJ says ban on selling handguns to young adults under 21 is unconstitutional

The Justice Department has released a legal opinion concluding that a federal gun law prohibiting handgun sales to individuals aged 18 to 20 is unconstitutional, as it infringes upon their Second Amendment rights. This decision came just a day after CBS News reported that the DOJ will not appeal a court ruling that deregulates certain weapons under the National Firearms Act.

The handgun ban originated from a separate law, as the legal system considers an 18-year-old mature enough to fulfill various adult responsibilities, including military service, voting, serving as a juror, and receiving the death penalty. Despite this, the OLC opinion states that it would have been a federal felony for a licensed dealer to sell a handgun to a young adult who later attended the University of Texas at Arlington.

The opinion is not legally binding, but it may lead federal prosecutors to avoid pursuing felony charges against dealers suspected of selling handguns to individuals under 21. The pro-gun control group GIFFORDS criticized the decision, accusing the Trump administration of protecting the gun lobby. People aged 18 to 20 have been involved in a significant number of school shootings, mass shootings, and overall gun homicides, suggesting that minimum age laws are necessary. The story is currently being updated.