There were two surprises recently in the gun-right debate. One was that Florida lawmakers and the governor agreed on a bill that raised the age to buy rifles from 18 to 21, included long weapons in a three-day waiting period for purchase, and banned bump stocks, which allow guns to mimic the rapid fire of automatic weapons.
Florida has been a friend to gun rights, and the speed of these changes, coming less than a month after a 19-year-old killed 17 people at a high school in the state, is shocking.
The other surprise is that the National Rifle Association immediately filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the new law from taking effect.
The NRA contends the new law is unconstitutional because it raises the minimum age to buy rifles and infringes upon the rights of some law-abiding Florida residents.
This sets up a courtroom debate on why it should be legal for an 18-year-old to buy a rifle when he is not allowed to purchase a handgun.
The NRA is taking a risk here. If it loses, other states may follow Florida.
