A federal judge overturned a law that had banned licensed gunsmiths for more than half a century from selling pistols and handguns to those under 21.
The decision, issued Wednesday, represents a major setback for gun control advocates as they try to persuade the US Congress to ban young people from buying semi-automatic weapons.
These guns, like the AR-15, used in many mass shootings, were not common in 1968, when congressmen passed a law that banned gunsmiths from selling revolvers to those under 21 years of age because they committed more crimes than older ones.
Since then, young Americans have been able to purchase revolvers and handguns from private sales or nationwide, but not from federally licensed stores, where they can buy all types of guns.
The 1968 law has been the subject of several lawsuits since its passage, but has remained in effect until then.
Virginia federal judge Robert Payne ruled Wednesday that a June Supreme Court ruling had changed the situation.
The highest court in the United States, overwhelmingly conservative, ruled that the Constitution protected Americans’ right to bear arms outdoors and ruled that the only possible restrictions should be part of the nation’s history.
For Judge Payne, this is not the case here: “The law and executive orders are not consistent with the history and traditions of our nation and therefore cannot be enforced,” he defended, according to his 71-page decision.
“Traditionally, young people have behaved like… young people. The social problem of their impetuousness and haste precedes the founding fathers” who, however, have not adopted any rules to prevent them from acquiring guns, he adds.
His decision, which is expected to be appealed and could go to the Supreme Court, was heavily criticized by the Everytown for Gun Safety association, which is campaigning for more restrictions on firearms.
“Young people between the ages of 18 and 20 commit gun homicides three times more often than adults over 21,” the association said in a statement, warning that the decision “will undoubtedly put lives at risk.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive website, firearms caused more than 47,000 deaths in the United States in 2021, including 26,000 suicides.
Source: DN
