Court: Federal Juvenile Handgun Ban Is Constitutional
A federal appeals court affirmed a handgun conviction and sentence today, holding that a federal law that bars juvenile possession of handguns does not violate the accused kid's Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Lucky for the kid, he was 17-years-old when he was originally charged, and over 18-years-old when his appeal was prosecuted. That effectively rendered moot any arguments challenging his sentencing because he was a juvenile. The judges held that since he is no longer being detained as a juvenile, and he isn't under any juvenile supervision,
Sources had told Maine law enforcement that the kid had "stolen property, drugs, a handgun, and a bullet-proof vest." After his grandmother let Maine law enforcement into her house and up to her grandson's room, the then-juvenile opened his bedroom door for them, and consented to a search of his room.
In hindsight, that probably didn't help him.
That's when law enforcement found a box of hollow-point ammunition for a .38 caliber handgun, a plastic bag with dried marijuana, and a revolver.
Related Resources:
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- U.S. v. Rene E. (1st Cir. 2009)
- The Second Amendment, FindLaw