Ban on selling handguns to young adults under 21 is unconstitutional: U.S. Justice Department
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a legal opinion declaring that federal bans on selling handguns to adults aged 18-20 are unconstitutional. The administration will no longer defend or prosecute cases under this law, citing Second Amendment protections.
Why it matters
This decision marks a significant shift in federal gun control enforcement, potentially expanding firearm access for young adults and setting a precedent for future Second Amendment litigation.
Federal law banning licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under age 21 is unconstitutional and can't be enforced, the Justice Department said in a legal opinion released on Friday (September 19, 2026).
The opinion from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel says the law aimed at making it harder for 18- to 20-year-olds to get handguns violates the Second Amendment. The opinion indicates the Trump administration will not defend or prosecute cases under the law that has been the subject of competing court rulings in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision that transformed the legal landscape around firearms.
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