A Florida judge ruled Friday that the state’s ban on concealed carry for adults aged 18 to 20 violates the Second Amendment. Broward Circuit Judge Frank Ledee declared the restriction unconstitutional, stating that the law unjustly limits the rights of legal adults to defend themselves.
Judge Ledee wrote in his opinion that the law “strips a class of legal adults of their ability to exercise the very right the Constitution guarantees.” He added that the restriction is overly broad and fails to respect the constitutional protections afforded by the Second Amendment.
The case focused on 19-year-old Joel Walkes III, who was arrested after police found a firearm in his waistband during a traffic stop. Walkes reportedly admitted to carrying the weapon. His defense argued that adults aged 18 to 20 are granted full legal responsibilities in many areas, including voting, marriage, and military service.
Ledee agreed with this reasoning, highlighting that the law unfairly singles out a group of legal adults and denies them a fundamental right. His ruling challenges the existing state law that bars these adults from legally carrying concealed firearms, a regulation that has stood despite their eligibility for other adult responsibilities.
The decision may pave the way for broader challenges to gun control measures that target specific age groups. It also aligns with recent federal court rulings that have emphasized an originalist interpretation of the Second Amendment—where the right to bear arms is not age-restricted for legal adults.
Florida’s attorney general may appeal the ruling, but for now, the decision marks a significant legal victory for gun rights advocates in the state and sets a potential precedent for similar laws across the country.
