In a significant ruling, a federal judge has confirmed that Colorado’s law banning the sale of firearms to people under the age of 21 does not violate the Second Amendment. This decision comes after a legal challenge from the group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, along with two other plaintiffs, who sued Governor Jared Polis in 2023, arguing that the law was unconstitutional.
The Background of the Legal Challenge
The law in question, SB23-169, was passed in 2023 and extends the federal ban on handgun sales to those under 21 to include rifles and shotguns. Previously, federal law had only prohibited people under 21 from purchasing handguns. The legal challenge raised by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the plaintiffs aimed to overturn this state law, claiming it infringed upon Second Amendment rights.
The Court’s Ruling
Philip A. Brimmer, the chief district judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, issued a ruling on Thursday siding with the state and Governor Polis. In his decision, Judge Brimmer agreed with the state’s position, affirming that Colorado’s law was not unconstitutional.
Previous Court Decisions
This latest ruling follows a decision made by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late last year, which ruled unanimously that SB23-169 was a valid regulation under the U.S. Constitution. The Court had previously dissolved an injunction that had blocked the law, allowing it to be enacted across the state.
Judge Brimmer’s ruling officially closes the case, upholding the legality of Colorado’s law restricting the sale of firearms to individuals under the age of 21. The ruling stands as a victory for the state and Governor Polis, reinforcing the constitutionality of the regulation in Colorado.