DOJ halts enforcement of federal handgun age restriction, citing Second Amendment

The Justice Department will not criminally enforce the 1968 law barring licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds, following an OLC opinion that the restriction is unconstitutional. This marks a significant executive-branch departure from a long-standing federal statute, with the Supreme Court never having ruled on its constitutionality. The decision could expand legal handgun access to younger adults, though dealer behavior and legal challenges remain uncertain.