JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is supporting legislation that would allow 18- to 20-year-olds to buy handguns. His comments follow a Department of Justice opinion released Thursday that says the federal ban on handgun sales to young adults is unconstitutional.
The law in Florida changed in 2018 under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act after the Parkland shooting. In a tweet Friday, Uthmeier said he looks forward to working with lawmakers to “right this wrong.”
The DOJ opinion argues that federal restrictions violate the Second Amendment. It states that eighteen-year-olds are considered mature enough to be drafted, vote, serve as jurors and face the death penalty. It says federal age limits on obtaining firearms fall within the plain text of the Second Amendment and are presumptively unconstitutional.
Z Farhat, the firearms manager at Green Acres Sporting Goods, says they abide by Florida’s law since its change in 2018.
“An eighteen-year-old cannot buy a firearm of any kind in the state of Florida from a licensed dealer,” Farhat said.
He says he believes the handgun age requirement should remain.
“I understand the handgun, why it’s 21, and I think that should stay the same. It should stay 21,” Farhat said.
Farhat says long guns should come with additional requirements.
“I think possibly they could bring it back to 18 on long guns, but I would maybe add maybe have them complete a hunter safety course or have them complete a firearms safety course,” Farhat said.
Jacksonville residents shared mixed reactions with Action News Jax.
“Too young at 18, as the law is now 21, I agree with that. Too much violence going on,” Henry Williams said.
“I would stick with that age, as you know I think they’re a little more mature and you know the guns just being a little more safe with it and everything like that,” Patrick Pritchett said.
The DOJ opinion also says current laws may not be enforced to impose criminal penalties on dealers who sell handguns to law-abiding adults.
In a retweet of the DOJ’s opinion, Uthmeier wrote that he is glad the department has followed suit in its fight for Second Amendment rights for Americans old enough to sign up to defend the nation.
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