Federal Under-21 Gun Sales Ban Survives Second Amendment Appeals

A federal statute barring the commercial sale of handguns to individuals under 21 is in line with historical restrictions and constitutional, the Fourth Circuit said Wednesday.

The decision follows the Fifth Circuit’s January ruling striking down the federal law as unconstitutional, signifying a circuit split on the age ban. Several federal courts have also made rulings recently upholding age-based restrictions on firearm sales under state law, including a Colorado district court and the 11th Circuit.

The US’ “regulatory tradition has permitted restrictions on the sale of firearms to individuals under the age of 21;" the statute at issue here ...