Federal Appeals Court Reviews Constitutionality of Florida Law Barring 18-20 Year-Olds from Buying Rifles and Other Long Guns
Background
In 2018, the state of Florida passed a law barring people under the age of 21 from buying rifles and other long guns. The law was included in a sweeping school safety measure passed after the Parkland school shooting, in which 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz used a semiautomatic rifle to kill 17 students and staff members.
Legal Challenge
The National Rifle Association challenged the state law, and in 2021, the U.S. District Court upheld the age restriction. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also upheld the law, but the NRA asked the full appeals court to reconsider the decision.
Recent Hearing
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held an "en banc" hearing to review the law. The judges grappled with how to apply a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings involving gun rights to the Florida law.
Arguments
The NRA argued that the age restriction is unconstitutional because it was not a tradition known at the time the Second Amendment was adopted. A lawyer for the NRA, John Parker Sweeney, pointed out that the common law at the time gave no rights to anyone under 21, including the ability to purchase firearms.
Counterarguments
Judge Robin Rosenbaum, however, countered that the common law did not impose a blanket prohibition on purchasing firearms. She noted that people under 21 often worked for their parents on farms and did not have their own sources of income, making it difficult for them to purchase guns.
Discussion of Historical Context
The judges also discussed the historical context of regulating firearms. Judge Barbara Lagoa questioned the justification for prohibiting 18-20 year olds, who are adults, from purchasing guns, noting that parents have no role or responsibility in supervising their children in these age groups. Judge Robert Luck pointed out that the "justification" for treating 18-20 year olds at the time of the founding was that parents had an "obligation" to take care of children under age 21.
Conclusion
The judges will now review the arguments and issue a decision on the constitutionality of the Florida law. The outcome is expected to have significant implications for gun rights in the United States.
FAQs
Q: Can someone under 21 purchase a rifle or other long gun in Florida?
A: No, according to Florida law, people under 21 are barred from buying rifles and other long guns.
Q: Is the law constitutional?
A: This is currently being reviewed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Q: What are the implications of a ruling for or against the law?
A: A ruling in favor of the law could set a precedent for other states to restrict gun purchases for young adults, while a ruling against the law could allow people under 21 to purchase rifles and other long guns in Florida.
