DOJ Opinion Finds Age-Based Handgun Ban for 18–20-Year-Olds Unconstitutional

Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel’s issued, through a Press Release, a 49 page opinion, concluding that 18-to-20-year-olds are among “the people” protected by the Second Amendment and that restrictions on their rights, based solely on their age, are unconstitutional.

The opinion is consistent with the arguments that we’ve made in our Lara case, where we were successful in having 18 Pa.C.S. 6107 (precluding, among others, 18-to-20-years olds from carry of firearms during a state of emergency – i.e. COVID) ruled unconstitutional and in our pending Brown case, where we are challenging the transportation and carry restrictions of 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(a), 6108, and 6109(b).

We applaud the U.S. DOJ for issuing this opinion and declaring that Federal Firearm Licensees (gun dealers) may sell handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds without incurring any criminal penalty.

If your state or federal constitutional rights have been violated, contact FICG today to discuss your options.


Firearms Industry Consulting Group® (FICG®) is a registered trademark and division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., with rights and permissions granted to Prince Law Offices, P.C. to use in this article.

Leave a comment