Supreme Court Lets Under-21 Gun Sale Bans Stand as It Weighs Assault-Weapon Cases
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 30
Supreme Court Lets Under-21 Gun Sale Bans Stand as It Weighs Assault-Weapon Cases
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 30
Summary
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected challenges to a Florida law and a federal law barring gun sales to people under 21, leaving both restrictions in place.
The orders came as the justices consider whether the Second Amendment protects AR-15-style rifles, a dispute centered on whether weapons owned in the tens of millions can be banned as "unusual."
Federal appeals courts have upheld assault-weapon bans, with one 2023 ruling saying such rifles and high-capacity magazines resemble machineguns and other military-grade weapons more than self-defense firearms.
The court's gun docket has swung both ways since its 2022 New York carry ruling—upholding a domestic-violence gun ban in 2024 but this month siding twice with Second Amendment challengers.
On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear challenges to bans on handgun sales to individuals under 21, leaving in place a patchwork of laws that keep access inconsistent for young adults across the country. This means that federal restrictions, like those upheld by the Fourth Circuit, remain, and organizations such as Everytown Law see this as a major win for gun safety. At the same time, the Court signaled it will soon address the constitutionality of assault weapons bans, setting the stage for a major decision that could reshape gun rights and regulations nationwide.