The U.S. Department of Justice says a federal law prohibiting licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to people aged 18 to 20 is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. Multiple outlets report the DOJ issued a new legal opinion reaching that conclusion.
Sources describe the opinion as coming from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel and as grounded in the Second Amendment. Several outlets characterize the practical effect as that the government will not pursue enforcement or criminally prosecute dealers for complying with the sales restrictions, while others emphasize that the ban no longer stands as a valid legal prohibition. While the articles largely align on the ages covered (18 through 20) and the outcome (unconstitutional, unenforceable), they differ mainly in wording and emphasis—some focus on the legal reasoning, others on the expected enforcement impact for dealers and would-be buyers.
