A federal court in Virginia ruled that federal restrictions restricting the sale of firearms to anybody under the age of 21 were unconstitutional.
Judge Robert Payne of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, who was nominated by President George H.W. Bush, is scheduled to announce his final judgment in the coming weeks, at which point the judgment, which the Justice Department is expected to fight, would become effective.
The judgment has no bearing on the rules of the 19 states that already prohibit the sale of firearms to anybody under the age of 21.
In his judgment, the judge often emphasized the Supreme Court’s recent significant expansion of gun rights, which Payne’s decision follows.
The right to carry firearms has become a contentious issue
In his conclusion, Payne said that the challenged laws and regulations cannot stand. Mainly because they are “not consistent with our nation’s history and tradition.”
Attorney Elliott Harding represented the first plaintiffs, four people aged 18 to 20, who wanted to lawfully get firearms. He expressed his happiness with the verdict.
it ensures that future buyers can now purchase these firearms in the federal system. This system includes background checks and other requirements. Harding expects the defendants to file an appeal. Nonetheless, we are optimistic that the ruling will be maintained in the end.
Despite high rates of firearm violence, including multiple mass shootings, the right to carry weapons is important to many Americans. It was promised by the country’s founders in the 18th century but has become a contentious issue.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 210 killings in 2023 so far. The greatest amount at this time of year since at least 2016. If the toll does not include the shooter, four or more people are considered victims in a mass shooting.
