Justice Department Issues Opinion on Handgun Sales to Under-21 Individuals

Mobile Pensacola, AL, September 18, 2026 —

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a significant legal opinion regarding the federal prohibition on licensed firearms dealers selling handguns to individuals younger than 21 years of age. According to the opinion, this federal law is considered unconstitutional and therefore cannot be enforced.

This development stems from a legal analysis conducted by the Justice Department. The opinion asserts that the current federal statute, which restricts the sale of handguns by licensed dealers to individuals who have not yet reached their 21st birthday, infringes upon constitutional rights. Consequently, the department has concluded that this specific prohibition is unenforceable.

The precise legal reasoning and the full scope of the opinion’s implications are expected to be detailed in forthcoming documents from the Justice Department. However, the core declaration is that the federal government’s ability to enforce this particular age restriction on handgun sales by licensed dealers is now in question due to its alleged unconstitutionality.

This opinion does not represent a change in existing law through legislative action or a definitive court ruling, but rather a legal interpretation from the executive branch’s law enforcement arm. The practical impact on licensed firearms dealers and the enforcement landscape remains to be seen as stakeholders digest this new legal guidance.

The details surrounding the process that led to this legal opinion, including any specific cases or challenges that prompted the review, were not provided in the initial summary. Further information regarding the department’s interpretation and its rationale is anticipated.

Story summarized from the original created by ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, Associated Press on www.wkrg.com, see more information here.

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