Florida Appeals Court Voids 1987 Concealed-Carry Ban for 18- to 20-Year-Olds
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Florida Appeals Court Voids 1987 Concealed-Carry Ban for 18- to 20-Year-Olds
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 17
Summary
A unanimous three-judge panel in Broward County ruled that Florida cannot bar 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying concealed weapons, striking down a law that had stood since 1987.
Judge Spencer D. Levine said the restriction violated the Second Amendment under recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, arguing the state imposed severe self-defense limits on adults old enough to serve in the military.
The case grew out of a 2024 arrest of an 18-year-old on concealed-carry charges, and Attorney General James Uthmeier had already urged the court to invalidate the statute rather than defend it.
The decision extends Florida's broader gun-rights shift under Gov. Ron DeSantis, after permitless concealed carry took effect in 2023 and an appeals court opened legal open carry in 2025.
It leaves intact other post-Parkland measures from 2018, including the age-21 minimum for gun purchases, which lawmakers have tried but failed to roll back.
A Florida court ruling now arms 18-year-olds. Is this the first domino to fall in the national debate on youth gun rights?
Florida now lets 18-year-olds carry guns they still cannot buy. What does this legal contradiction mean for public safety?
Florida Appeals Court Overturns Concealed Carry Age Limit: What the Ruling Means for Young Adults and Gun Laws
Overview
On June 17, 2026, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal unanimously struck down the state's ban on concealed carry for young adults aged 18 to 20, ruling that the prohibition violated the Second Amendment. As a result, individuals in this age group are now legally allowed to carry concealed firearms in Florida, overturning a long-standing state law. This decision takes effect immediately but does not change existing federal or state laws about purchasing handguns. The ruling marks a major shift in gun rights for young adults and reflects the court's strict interpretation of constitutional protections.