U.S. Court Rules Ban on Handgun Sales to Young Adults Unconstitutional

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A conservative U.S. appeals court in New Orleans ruled on Thursday that a federal ban on handgun sales to individuals aged 18 to 21 is unconstitutional, citing the Second Amendment. The ruling comes from a three-judge panel and follows a significant Supreme Court decision in 2022 that broadened gun rights across the nation.

According to the court, “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.” This decision marks a notable shift, as the Fifth Circuit previously upheld the age restriction. Similar cases in states like Minnesota and Texas have seen comparable laws struck down, influenced by the Supreme Court's emphasis on historical traditions in assessing firearm regulations.

The Biden administration has previously opposed such rulings, and while the Trump administration's plans regarding this ruling remain unclear, Donald Trump has expressed strong support for gun rights. Advocacy groups such as the Firearms Policy Coalition have championed the decision, while organizations like the Giffords Law Center have criticized it as reckless.

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