Appeals Court Allows Colorado To Restrict Gun Sales For Young Adults, Sparking Gun Rights Debate

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Colorado’s controversial law barring individuals under 21 from purchasing firearms, sparking a renewed debate over the Second Amendment and age-based gun restrictions. The ruling reverses a lower court’s block on the law and allows the state to enforce its age limit.

The appeals court’s decision, written by U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Federico, argues that Colorado’s age restriction does not violate the Constitution’s protections. Federico stated that the law merely imposes a condition on gun sales, rather than denying gun rights outright. The court’s reasoning aligns with a test outlined in the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which requires that gun laws align with historical regulations.

Proponents of the law argue that restricting firearm access for individuals aged 18 to 20 will enhance public safety, noting that studies have shown younger individuals may lack impulse control. The state contends that this age restriction mirrors historical firearm regulations and is meant to reduce potential risks associated with gun ownership among young adults.

Gun rights advocates strongly disagree, arguing that the ruling violates the Second Amendment. Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), one of the plaintiffs, claims that the age-based restriction unfairly denies adults under 21 their right to purchase firearms for lawful purposes like self-defense. RMGO argues that the Second Amendment applies equally to all adults and that this law sets a dangerous precedent by imposing restrictions based solely on age.

Critics of the ruling highlight the inconsistency of trusting 18-year-olds to vote, serve in the

military, and pay taxes while denying them the right to purchase firearms. They argue that this ruling selectively limits rights based on age, which they see as incompatible with the Second Amendment’s guarantees.

RMGO has announced plans to appeal the ruling, potentially bringing the case to the Supreme Court. If taken up, the case could become a defining moment in determining the constitutionality of age-based restrictions on gun ownership, a highly debated issue likely to remain in the spotlight.

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