Trump DOJ won't enforce federal handgun sales ban for 18- to 20-year-olds

The Trump administration’s Justice Department announced it will not criminally enforce the federal law banning licensed gun dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds, concluding the restriction violates the Second Amendment, though this is an opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel and not a court ruling. While this could expand access to handguns for under-21 adults, it remains unclear if dealers will begin sales immediately, and federal appellate courts remain split on such age restrictions, with the Supreme Court having not ruled on the issue.

# Trump DOJ won't enforce federal handgun sales ban for 18- to 20-year-olds Author: Andrew Pantazi Published: 2026-09-18T22:49:14.130806+00:00 Source: axios.com (axios.com) Language: en ## Story Trump DOJ won't enforce federal handgun sales ban for 18- to 20-year-olds 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy # DOJ won't enforce handgun ban for 18- to 20-year-olds Add Axios on Google Add Axios as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Axios on Google Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios The Justice Department said Friday it will not criminally enforce a 1968 federal law barring licensed gun dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds, after its Office of Legal Counsel concluded the restriction violated the Second Amendment. Why it matters: The Trump administration is telling federal prosecutors not to enforce a law passed by Congress, even though the Supreme Court has never ruled on its constitutionality. - The decision could give adults under the age of 21 access to the country's licensed handgun market, though it remains unclear whether dealers will begin selling to them immediately. The latest: The Thursday opinion signed by Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser stands as controlling legal advice for the executive branch, though it isn't a court ruling and doesn't bind judges or erase the law. - Gaiser wrote that 18- to 20-year-olds are adults protected by the Second Amendment, and the right to own handguns includes the ability to buy them. - While the opinion said criminal enforcement was unconstitutional, it didn't address wheth…

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