Full Breakdown
Florida Appeals Court Overturns 18-20 Concealed-Carry Ban
6/18/2026, 6:17:56 AM
Ruling Overview
In June 2026, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Broward County declared Florida’s 1987 statute barring adults aged 18-20 from concealed-carry permits facially unconstitutional. The panel said the restriction infringes the Second Amendment because no historical tradition justifies denying law-abiding adults in that age group the right to self-defense.
Legislative Background
The 1987 ban predated modern debates. After the 2018 Parkland shooting, Florida raised the firearm purchase age to 21 and added a three-day waiting period. In 2023 Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law eliminating the permit requirement for concealed carry, and a 2025 Tallahassee appellate decision struck down a separate ban on open carry.
Principal Actors
Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican gun-rights advocate, urged the court to strike down the ban. Governor Ron DeSantis supports broader carry rights. Judge Spencer D. Levine wrote the appellate opinion. Lower-court judges Lorena Mastrarrigo and Frank Ledee issued opposing rulings. State Attorney Harold F. Pryor defended the restriction. Plaintiffs include an unnamed 18-year-old and earlier challengers Jaylen Eubanks (20) and Joel Andrew Walkes (19).
Timeline of Key Dates
Key dates: 1987 ban enacted; 2018 Parkland reforms; 2023 DeSantis permitless-carry law; March 2025 Walkes decision striking down the ban; June 2026 appellate reversal.
Data & Statistics
The law barred all adults 18-20 from concealed carry; purchase age is 21 with a three-day waiting period.
Impact on State Gun Policy
The decision expands concealed-carry eligibility to adults aged 18-20, aligning with recent Supreme Court interpretations of the Second Amendment. Proponents cite self-defense benefits; critics warn it may erode safety gains after Parkland.
Official Responses
Attorney General Uthmeier posted on X that the ruling was “another win for the unalienable rights of Floridians.” The opinion called the ban “contrary to our historical tradition.” The Department of Agriculture will implement the order.
Opposition Viewpoints
Gun-control advocates argue extending concealed-carry to 18-20-year-olds weakens post-Parkland safety measures. State Attorney Harold Pryor said the ban was needed to keep communities safe.
On-the-Ground Incidents
Jaylen Eubanks, 20, said he displayed his gun after two men threatened to run him over. Joel Andrew Walkes, 19, was stopped when an officer saw a waistband bulge; he admitted the gun, with no prior record.
Conflicting Lower-Court Rulings
Judge Mastrarrigo upheld the ban in 2024; Judge Ledee struck it down in 2025, creating a direct conflict resolved by the appellate court.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We find the statute in this case to be facially unconstitutional as to 18- to 20-year-olds because no set of circumstances exists … that would allow [them] to carry a concealed firearm,” — Fourth District Court of Appeal
- “was contrary to our historical tradition and violates the Second Amendment.” — Judge Spencer D. Levine
- “another win for the unalienable rights of Floridians” — James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General (X post)
- “our communities safer and prevent future tragedies.” — Harold F. Pryor, Broward County State Attorney
Next Steps
The state may appeal, though Uthmeier opposes the restriction. The Department of Agriculture will adjust licensing for 18-20-year-olds.
