Great news for Florida gun owners. The state's Attorney General just told the courts he's done fighting to keep 18-to-20-year-olds disarmed.
Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeals ruled that Florida's law banning concealed carry for adults under 21 was unconstitutional. Then AG James Uthmeier went on X and made it official: "We will not seek further review." That's attorney-general-speak for "we're giving up."
This all started when Jaylen Eubanks, an 18-year-old from Broward County, was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm. He challenged the charge, arguing Florida's blanket ban on 18-to-20-year-olds carrying concealed violated the Second Amendment. The trial court disagreed. The Fourth DCA didn't.
Here's the key point the court made: Florida lets 18-year-olds vote, join the military, and face adult consequences in court. But when it came to self-defense, the state treated those same adults like constitutional children. The court said that's not how the Second Amendment works.
Under the Supreme Court's Bruen framework, the government has to prove gun laws have historical roots. Florida couldn't do it. Founding-era militia laws actually required young adults to be armed — the opposite of what Florida was doing.
Now, let me be clear about what this doesn't change: Federal law still restricts licensed dealers from selling handguns to anyone under 21. This case is about Florida's carry laws, not federal purchase restrictions. A young adult can still face federal hurdles buying a handgun from a store.
But if they're 18, legally acquired the firearm, and want to carry it? Florida can no longer stop them. The state's not appealing. This ruling stands.
For those of you with younger family members looking to exercise their rights, it's worth staying tuned as FDACS works through the implementation details. The AG says he's coordinating with them to make this happen — which means the law is changing, and change is good.