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Sandy Hook Promise Statement on Court Ruling to Lower the Minimum Age for Handgun Purchases

Newtown, Conn. – The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled against longstanding firearms regulations yesterday that prohibit young adults aged 18 to 20 from purchasing handguns. This decision will now be sent back to the lower court for further proceedings in line with the ruling.

For years, federal law has stipulated that a person must be age 21 to purchase a handgun from licensed firearms dealers, and age 18 to purchase long guns like rifles or shotguns. Some of those regulations date back more than 50 years.

Over the decades, challenges to age restrictions on handguns failed in the courts. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to expand gun rights under a more historical, traditional lens has led to the reevaluation of certain firearm restrictions throughout the country.

In response to this week’s court ruling, Mark Barden, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement: 

“Right now, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. We are extremely disappointed by this week’s court ruling because we know it will only contribute to this terrible fact. More guns in the hands of young people can lead to more tragedies.

“Individuals aged 18 to 20 are legally adults, but the human brain does not reach its full development and maturity until the mid-to-late 20s. In fact, the parts of the brain that regulate inhibition, emotion, and decision-making develop last. These basic scientific facts tell us one clear thing as it relates to this recent court ruling – keeping the age for purchases at 21 is a sensible way to keep handguns away from those who are biologically not developed enough to possess them.

“There were nearly 2,100 gun deaths among emerging adults (age 18-19) in 2022, the most recent year with finalized data from the CDC. Furthermore, this age group saw a 40% increase in the number of gun suicide deaths between 2013 and 2022.

“We call upon judicial officials to refute this recent ruling and uphold decades of precedent. Age-based restrictions to protect kids have always been a part of our laws in America, and it is the responsibility of government to protect the most vulnerable. Keeping the minimum age for handgun purchases at age 21 will save lives and will protect schools, homes, and communities across our country without infringing on our constitutional rights to own firearms.”

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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. 

Media Contact:

Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 646-761-5579