Handgun Sale Ban Tied to Age Meets Skepticism at Fifth Circuit

A panel of conservative appellate judges seemed skeptical of the Justice Department’s defense of a handgun sale ban for 18-to-20 year olds, in light of recent rulings from the US Supreme Court on gun rights.

Three Republicans appointees on the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday pressed a government lawyer on similar restrictions at the time that the Second Amendment was adopted. Judge Edith Jones was particularly dubious of arguments raising age restrictions that were in place at the time of the nation’s founding, as they didn’t apply to buying guns.

The law prevents sellers with ...