COLUMBUS, Ohio — As far back as 1968, federal law has prohibited those under the age of 21 from buying a handgun from a federally licensed gun dealer.

At the time, Congress acted in response to an uptick in handgun use among teenagers and young adults and the linking of handguns to violent crime, believing that a higher age restriction would curb such violence.

Fast forward to 2025 and Ohio is preparing to change the law.

Senate Bill 303 , sponsored by Republican Senators Terry Johnson, Al Cutrona and Jane Timken, is designed to remove the restriction while requiring background checks for all buyers between 18 and 21 years old.

Supporters, including the Buckeye Firearms Association, argue that the federal ban strips younger adults of their constitutional rights.

“You’re basically str

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