After the 2018 Parkland shooting, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that included raising the age from 18-21 to buy a rifle and long guns.
A federal appeals court will hear a challenge to the law next month. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is taking the lead on this case, as it opposed the 2018 law.
“This case could possibly go to the U.S. Supreme Court,’” said attorney and legal analyst Ron Davis. “The NRA’s focus is on the age issue, and the Constitutional perimeters are the current gun laws in line with the country’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
While the lawsuit develops, another pro-2nd Amendment group seeks to repeal the 2018-gun bill that was passed by the state legislature.
Gun Owners Of America (GOA) Florida Director Luis Valdes says state Republican lawmakers aren’t doing enough to push forward 2nd Amendment rights in the state, like repealing the minimum age of 21 to buy a rifle.
Valdes says he understands the lawsuit but wants state GOP leaders to take the lead on the gun issue and not rely on the courts to decide.
One GOP consultant told Florida Daily that Republican officials weren’t going to touch a gun issue this year during the state legislative session with a contested presidential election, fearful it could drive some Democrats and Independents out to the polls who favor gun restrictions.
A move to repeal the 2018-gun provision had some traction in the Florida State House this year, and it would have lowered the age to buy a rifle from 21 back to 18, but the Florida State Senate didn’t pass it.
