# DOJ won't prosecute handgun sales to 18-20 year olds

> The Justice Department says federal law banning licensed dealers from selling handguns to adults 18-20 violates the Second Amendment.
- Title: DOJ won't prosecute handgun sales to 18-20 year olds
- Summary: The Justice Department says federal law banning licensed dealers from selling handguns to adults 18-20 violates the Second Amendment. The DOJ will not…
- Keywords: department of justice, second amendment, handgun sales, 18-20 year olds, federal law, firearms dealers, constitutional law, office of legal counsel, news, politics, DOJ, won't
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/national/doj-says-it-wont-criminally-charge-dealers-for-handgun-sales-to-adults-18-to-20
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-19T14:00:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: department of justice, second amendment, handgun sales, 18-20 year olds, federal law, firearms dealers, constitutional law, office of legal counsel, news, politics
## DOJ won't prosecute handgun dealers
The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel concluded that federal law banning licensed dealers from selling handguns to adults 18-20 cannot be constitutionally enforced under the Second Amendment.
## 18-20 year olds are protected
The Office of Legal Counsel determined that adults between 18 and 20 are among the people protected by the Second Amendment, noting they can vote, serve on juries, and face adult criminal penalties.

> The Constitution protects the people's right to keep and bear arms.
## Handguns are commonly used firearms
The opinion concluded that the Second Amendment protects the ability to acquire commonly used firearms, and federal restrictions burden that ability, making them presumptively unconstitutional.
## No founding-era ban tradition found
The Office of Legal Counsel examined historical firearm regulations and found no founding-era tradition of preventing legal adults from purchasing firearms. Early militia laws actually required 18-year-olds to provide their own firearms.
## Criminal enforcement is blocked
The Office of Legal Counsel specifically concluded that federal law sections 922(b)(1) and 922(c)(1) may not be enforced to impose criminal penalties on licensed dealers selling handguns to law-abiding adults 18-20.
## Key takeaway

The DOJ will not criminally enforce the federal handgun sales ban for adults ages 18 to 20, citing Second Amendment protections.