Appeals court approves Colorado gun sales ban for under 21s
DENVER, Colorado: A federal appeals court ruled that Colorado’s recent law, which restricts gun purchases to those 21 and older, can be enforced while legal proceedings continue.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals found that attorneys representing a young man challenging the law, along with the gun rights group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, did not meet the necessary criteria to halt the law during the ongoing lawsuit. The case has been returned to a lower court for further review.
The age restriction law is part of a series of gun control measures signed by Democratic Governor Jared Polis in 2023, mirroring efforts in other states to address rising violent crime and mass shootings.
Although U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer had initially blocked the law with a preliminary injunction, citing a recent Supreme Court decision expanding Second Amendment rights, the appeals court has now lifted that injunction.
The Colorado law specifically restricts those aged 18 to 20 from purchasing rifles and shotguns. This adds to existing federal restrictions that prevent licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns to those under 21, though that rule is also being legally challenged.
Governor Polis’s office described the age restriction as “commonsense gun safety legislation.” Rocky Mountain Gun Owners did not immediately comment on the ruling.