Federal Judge Rules 18-20 Year Olds Can't Be Barred from Buying Handguns

A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that federal laws prohibiting licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds are unconstitutional, citing the Second Amendment's protections for the age group. The ruling comes after the Supreme Court's Second Amendment ruling last year, which has escalated legal battles over age-based firearm regulations. The Justice Department has the option to appeal the ruling, and there are procedural questions that must be settled before the ruling goes into effect. The decision could lead to a major dispute that the Supreme Court must ultimately resolve.