September 22, 2021 - 08:56 PM EDT
Federal court vacates gun rights ruling on restricting buyers under 21A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday threw out a previous ruling it had made that found a ban on gun buyers under 21 to be unconstitutional.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that its previously ruling in July was now moot because the two plaintiffs in the case had recently turned 21, Reuters reported. Judge Julius Richardson said vacating the ruling he had previously authored would serve the public's interest as it would make way for further litigation in the future.
The federal judge said both the public and legal communities would benefit from this action as "the exchange of ideas between the panel and dissent will remain available as a persuasive source."
In July, the court had ruled the 21 minimum age requirement to purchase a gun was unconstitutional.
"Looking through this historical lens to the text and structure of the Constitution reveals that 18- to 20-year-olds have Second Amendment rights. Virtually every other constitutional right applies whatever the age. And the Second Amendment is no different," Richardson had written in the ruling.
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/573538-federal-court-vacates-gun-rights-ruling-on-restricting-buyers-under?amp