A senior federal judge in Eastern Virginia ruled sections of the Gun Control Act of 1968 and various other regulations passed since unconstitutionally banned people ages of 18-20 from buying handguns from federally-licensed firearms dealers, allowing teenagers access to retail outlets, the Washington Post reports.
While there are significant loopholes in the law that allow people in the age range to get guns through private buyers or as gifts–there are no federal laws against people between 18 and 21 from possessing handguns–the intent was to prevent impulsive teenagers from easily getting guns that can be hidden on one’s person. District Judge Robert E. Payne, a GW Bush appointee, frequently cited the recent SCOTUS case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen to support his decision saying, “Because the statutes and regulations in question are not consistent with our Nation’s history and tradition, they, therefore, cannot stand.”