Florida Appeals Court Rules 18-Year-Olds Have Same Gun Rights as Older Adults

A Florida appeals court ruled on June 18, 2026, that the state's ban on concealed carry for individuals aged 18 to 20 violates the Second Amendment. The court found that young adults are entitled to the same constitutional protections as those over the age of 20. Judge Spencer D. Levine, writing for a unanimous three-judge panel of Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeals, stated that while 18-year-olds can serve in the military, they face restrictions on their self-defense rights. The ruling was prompted by the case of Jaylen Eubanks, who was charged with carrying a concealed firearm at 18. The court reversed Eubanks' conviction, citing Supreme Court precedents and historical traditions that support the rights of young adults to bear arms. The court also noted that concerns about firearm misuse among younger adults did not justify the restrictions imposed by Florida law.