Colorado: federal judge blocks bill banning under-21s from buying firearms

The ruling, signed by Philip Brimmer, establishes that the block will remain in effect until the merits of the case are resolved.

Judge Philip Brimmer of the U.S. District Court in Colorado issued a preliminary injunction against Senate Bill 23-169, which seeks to prohibit those  under the age of 21 from purchasing firearms in the state. The ruling explains that "this preliminary injunction shall remain in effect pending disposition of the case on the merits." The current law allows a person over the age of 18 to possess or purchase a firearm.

Un juez federal bloquea pro... by Williams Perdomo

 

The initiative to limit gun sales was enacted by the Democratic majority in the state legislature and signed by Governor Jared Polis in April. After learning of the bill, the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a gun rights advocacy group, filed a lawsuit against Polis alleging that the measure violates the Second Amendment.

"The Court agrees with the Individual Plaintiffs that the Second Amendment includes the right to acquire firearms. The Court finds that the Governor has failed to meet his burden to demonstrate that SB23-169 is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearms regulation,” wrote Judge Brimmer.

Taylor Rhodes, director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, said the bill is unconstitutional and that his group warned Democrats that it would be blocked. “Since the day this legislation was introduced, we knew it was unconstitutional. ... But it doesn’t stop here. We won’t stop fighting until every single unconstitutional anti-gun law is struck down,” Rhodes said in a statement.