This September 17, 2026 Office of Legal Counsel opinion concludes that the federal ban on licensed handgun sales to law-abiding adults ages 18 to 20 is unconstitutional as applied under the Second Amendment. The opinion analyzes text, history, and modern Supreme Court doctrine, and says the government cannot justify the restriction under the historical-tradition approach associated with Bruen. It is a notable executive-branch constitutional interpretation because it directly addresses whether licensed dealers may be barred from selling handguns to this age group.
