In 2018 Florida banned the sale of long guns to those under the age of 21, this gun control measure was passed by Republicans and was in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The NRA took the state to court over the constitutionality of the law. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a 48-page ruling on the case and upheld the law passed by Florida.
In Walker’s ruling, he compared the ban on sales to those under the age of 21 to the ban on sales of firearms to those who are mentally handicapped or have committed felonies. This of course was in reference to the DC vs Heller case in 2008 where a ban on sales of firearms to felons and the mentally handicapped was upheld as constitutional.
DC vs. Heller was a major win for gun rights and serves as one of the most important 2nd Amendment cases in US history, however, the case also upheld certain prohibitions on who could own firearms.
DC vs. Heller upholds bans on the mentally handicapped and those who have been convicted of felonies owning guns, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker makes the case in his ruling that a ban on those under the age of 21 from owning firearms is in line with these constitutional prohibitions.
From WFSU media:
While the Heller case is broadly considered a major victory for gun-rights supporters, it also said certain “longstanding prohibitions” about guns do not violate the Second Amendment, according to Walker’s ruling.
The Heller case cited prohibitions on such things as felons and mentally ill people possessing guns, Walker concluded that restrictions on 18-to-20-year-old people buying guns were “analogous” to the restrictions cited in the Heller case.
“In short, Heller’s listed regulations are similar to restrictions on the purchase of firearms by 18-to-20-year-olds; all target specific groups that are thought to be especially dangerous with firearms,” he wrote.
While this case does not look good this is no major defeat for the 2nd Amendment and gun owners across the country. This case may however be referenced in the future if gun control advocates were to implement key changes and restrictions on firearms.
If being too young can justify a prohibition on firearm ownership, can being too old? This is a serious question. Can politicians in DC enforce a new prohibition on the elderly from owning firearms? According to Walker’s interpretation of DC vs Heller, this may be the case.
