Florida’s new Attorney General James Uthmeier is stepping up as a fierce defender of the Second Amendment, throwing the state’s weight behind 18-20-year-olds challenging a dusty 1987 concealed carry ban that’s been blocking their fundamental right to self-defense. In a bold move, Uthmeier’s office has intervened in key federal lawsuits, arguing that age-based restrictions like this one crumble under the Supreme Court’s Bruen framework—which demands gun laws align with our nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. This isn’t just legal housekeeping; it’s a direct shot at the patchwork of post-Bruen challenges where states have clung to arbitrary age cutoffs, treating young adults as second-class citizens when it comes to bearing arms.
Digging deeper, this fight echoes the mounting victories across the country, from New York’s concessions on sensitive places to lower courts striking down red-flag laws without due process. Uthmeier, fresh off replacing the more moderate Ashley Moody, signals a seismic shift in Florida—one of the most gun-friendly states—toward uncompromising 2A maximalism. Historically, that 1987 ban was a relic of Reagan-era panic, ignoring how 18-year-olds are trusted with military rifles abroad yet stripped of carry rights at home. By intervening, Uthmeier isn’t just upholding the Constitution; he’s preempting a flood of copycat suits that could normalize adult carry rights from 18 onward, weakening the NRA’s old 21+ talking point and bolstering challenges in restrictive states like California or New York.
For the 2A community, the implications are electric: a win here could cascade nationally, pressuring even blue states to rethink age discrimination and reinforcing Bruen’s historical test as an unstoppable force. It’s a reminder that state AGs like Uthmeier are the new frontlines in the culture war over our rights—expect more interventions, amicus briefs, and maybe even offensive strikes against overreach. Gun owners, this is your cue to rally: support these warriors, because every upheld restriction is one step closer to the confiscation they crave. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and celebrate the tide turning.
