Federal judge overturns ban prohibiting licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds
RICHMOND – In further evidence of the fallout from the Supreme Court’s dangerous Bruen decision, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne today ruled that regulations preventing 18-to-20-year-olds from buying handguns are unconstitutional. If upheld on appeal, Payne’s ruling threatens to dismantle federal statutes and regulations that for decades have limited handgun access for teenagers.
“The evidence is overwhelming that more guns lead to more gun deaths, and this ruling, if allowed to stand, will endanger the lives of countless young people across the country. Firearms are already the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. and making it easier for teens to buy and own guns will only lead to more tragedies,” said Nina Vinik, founder and executive director of Project Unloaded. “This ruling makes clear that we need to think beyond legislation to stop the rising tide of gun violence in this country. We need to address America’s deadly gun culture that perpetrates that false belief that guns make us safer.”
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