A federal appeals court has declared unconstitutional a nationwide ban preventing young adults aged 18-20 from purchasing handguns. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans argued that this federal law infringes upon the Second Amendment rights of these individuals, explicitly stating that they are included among "the people" protected by the amendment's right to bear arms.

This decision follows a series of overturned firearm regulations nationwide after a pivotal 2022 Supreme Court ruling broadened gun rights. The court has now remanded the case to a lower court for further proceedings.

The appeals court had previously upheld the 21-year-old age requirement for handgun purchases. However, the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen mandates that firearm restrictions be deeply rooted in historical tradition. Similar state laws limiting handgun sales to young adults have already been struck down in Minnesota, Virginia, and Texas, failing this historical test.

While the Biden administration contested these rulings, the Trump administration is anticipated to adopt a more pro-gun rights stance. Former President Trump's declaration at a National Rifle Association event during his campaign that "no one will lay a finger on your firearms" underscores this expectation.

Legal expert Jonathan Turley suggests that the Trump administration might not appeal the 5th Circuit's decision, potentially preventing Supreme Court review. He speculates that this could limit the national impact of the precedent.

The Firearms Policy Coalition, along with other gun rights organizations, celebrated the ruling as a victory for the Second Amendment. Their president, Brandon Combs, expressed hope for the restoration of gun rights for all law-abiding adults across the U.S.

Current federal law requires individuals to be 21 to purchase a handgun from licensed dealers, while long guns can be purchased at 18. Unlicensed handgun sales have an 18-year-old minimum age, with no minimum age for long guns from unlicensed sellers.

Conversely, Everytown for Gun Safety advocates for maintaining the 21-year-old age restriction, citing public safety concerns and FBI statistics showing higher gun homicide rates among 18-to-20-year-olds. They urge the federal government to challenge this ruling through a rehearing or Supreme Court appeal.