The ban, part of federal law since 1968, prevented licensed firearm dealers from selling pistols to young adults, a restriction pro-gun advocates argue violated the constitutional protections of law-abiding citizens.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision not to appeal a Fifth Circuit ruling striking down the federal ban on handgun purchases for 18-to-20-year-olds is a significant victory for Second Amendment rights.
The Fifth Circuit’s unanimous January 2025 decision in Reese v. ATF held that these statutes infringe on the Second Amendment, as 18-to-20-year-olds are part of “the people” entitled to keep and bear arms.
By letting the appeal deadline pass in June 2025, the DOJ effectively allows the ruling to stand, meaning the ban will likely go unenforced in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Hannah Hill, Vice President of the National Foundation for Gun Rights, took to X to comment on the matter, saying:
“Major props to the Trump DOJ for refusing to fight for the federal 18-20 handgun purchase ban. The 5th Circuit absolutely got this one right and DOJ did the right thing not to appeal that ruling.”
This move aligns with President Trump’s executive order directing the DOJ to prioritize protecting Second Amendment rights.
The ruling builds on the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which requires gun laws to align with historical traditions, a standard the Fifth Circuit found the handgun ban failed to meet.
Judge Edith Jones, in the court’s opinion, noted the lack of historical evidence for restricting firearm rights of 18-to-20-year-olds during the Founding era.
This as a clear affirmation that young adults, often trusted to vote, serve in the military, and exercise other Constitutional rights, should not be denied their Second Amendment protections.
This highlights a growing circuit split, as the Fourth Circuit upheld the same federal ban in June 2025, creating uncertainty that could push the issue to the Supreme Court.
Gun rights supporters are encouraged by similar rulings, like the Third Circuit striking down Pennsylvania’s restrictions on young adults carrying guns during emergencies.
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