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FLORIDA - A federal appeals court has upheld Florida’s law prohibiting individuals under 21 from purchasing rifles and long guns, rejecting an NRA-backed challenge.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-4 that the law aligns with historical firearm regulations, citing legal traditions dating back to the nation’s founding.
The law was enacted in 2018 after the Parkland school shooting, where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz allegedly killed 17 people with a semiautomatic rifle.
The NRA challenged the restriction, arguing it violated the Second Amendment.
Chief Judge William Pryor, writing for the majority, stated that minors have historically lacked the judgment necessary to purchase firearms but can still receive them as gifts from responsible adults.
Dissenting Judge Andrew Brasher countered that no such historical precedent existed, arguing that the law imposes unjustified age-based limits on constitutional rights.
The ruling does not end the debate.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he would not defend the law, arguing that if 18-year-olds can serve in the military, they should also be allowed to purchase firearms.
A state House panel has advanced a bill to repeal the restriction, and Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled openness to revising gun laws.
With ongoing legal and political challenges, the issue may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
