The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that raised the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21. The 8-4 decision comes after a lengthy legal battle initiated by the National Rifle Association (NRA) following the 2018 Parkland school shooting.
The law was enacted after the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz killed 17 students and faculty members. The NRA subsequently challenged the law, arguing it violated the Second Amendment.
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Chief Judge William Pryor, writing for the majority, emphasized the historical context of firearm regulation, stating that the Florida law aligns with the nation’s tradition of regulating minors’ access to weapons. “From this history emerges a straightforward conclusion: the Florida law is consistent with our regulatory tradition in why and how it burdens the right of minors to keep and bear arms,” Pryor wrote. He highlighted that while the law restricts purchase, it allows individuals under 21 to possess long guns through gifts from family members.
The majority opinion relied on recent U.S. Supreme Court precedents, asserting that Second Amendment restrictions must be consistent with the “prevailing understanding” of gun rights during the nation’s founding era. They argued that minors, historically, were deemed to lack the judgment necessary for such purchases.
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Judge Andrew Brasher authored a dissenting opinion, joined by three other judges, disputing the historical basis for the age restriction. Brasher argued that there were no age-based limitations on the right to keep and bear arms during the founding period.
The ruling has sparked immediate reactions. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, announced he would not defend the law, citing that individuals old enough to serve in the military should be able to purchase firearms.
“Men and women old enough to fight and die for our country should be able to purchase firearms to defend themselves and their families,” Florida Attorney General Uthmeier posted on X.
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The legal battle is likely to continue, with potential appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Florida House is considering a bill to repeal the age restriction, indicating ongoing legislative debate on the issue.
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