DOJ ruling: handgun ban for 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional

Key points: DOJ ruling handgun ban

• The DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel concluded the federal law barring licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced, finding the restriction burdens the plain-text right of "the people."
• The opinion leans on founding-era militia statutes, which required service — and a personally owned firearm — starting at 18, undercutting the "too young" argument for the age floor.
• It's a legal opinion, not a repeal: the 1968 law stays on the books, Congress hasn't acted, and a future administration could reverse the DOJ's position.
• State law is unaffected — Florida still requires dealers to sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, so nothing changes for buyers there yet unless the legislature acts.
• On-camera reactions from a Florida gun store manager and customers favor keeping the age at 21, citing maturity and safety concerns.
• Noir counters that 18-year-olds already vote, serve on juries, and hold major jobs, arguing it's inconsistent to gate one enumerated right while treating them as full adults everywhere else.

About this Drama and Gripe video

DOJ legal opinion says the federal ban on handgun sales to 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional and unenforceable. Colion Noir breaks down the Office of Legal Counsel's founding-era militia argument, on-camera pushback from a Florida gun store manager, and how Florida's 21-and-up dealer law still stands until the state changes it.

Transcript: DOJ ruling handgun