DOJ won't enforce handgun ban for 18- to 20-year-olds
Summary
The Justice Department announced it will no longer criminally enforce a federal law that stops licensed gun sellers from selling handguns to people aged 18 to 20. This decision is based on a legal opinion that the law violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.Key Facts
- The law in question is from 1968 and restricts handgun sales to those under 21 by licensed dealers.
- The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel says the law is unconstitutional for 18- to 20-year-olds.
- This decision does not come from a court ruling but guides federal prosecutors on enforcement.
- The Department of Justice’s opinion argues that 18- to 20-year-olds are adults protected by the Second Amendment.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has not yet updated its rules to reflect this change.
- Gun safety groups say the decision is dangerous and claim the law has helped protect public safety for a long time.
- The Supreme Court has not ruled on this law’s constitutionality, and courts remain divided on age restrictions for gun purchases.
- This move fits into President Trump’s wider policy efforts to expand gun rights and reduce government regulations on firearms.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
