WASHINGTON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a federal lawsuit against Florida on Friday immediately after its governor signed into law a gun-control bill raising the minimum age of a gun purchase from 18 to 21.
In a federal court, the NRA, the most influential anti-gun control group in the United States, accused Florida of violating the U.S. Constitution.
"We filed a lawsuit against the state for violating the constitutional rights of 18- to 21-years-old," said Marion Hammer, a lobbyist for the NRA in Florida.
The NRA added that the blanket ban violates the fundamental rights of thousands of Florida citizens and is thus invalid under the Second and 14th Amendments.
Final passage of the bill by state lawmakers came about three weeks after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 and injured 14 others.
The bill signed by Florida's Governor Rick Scott, who was an NRA member when taking office with an A-plus rating from the anti-gun control group, was passed by both the Republican-controlled state senate and house earlier this month.
"I am going to do what I think are common sense solutions," Scott said after the signing. "I think this is the beginning. There is now going to be a real conversation about how we make our schools safe."
Under the new state law, anyone under 21 who buys a firearm is in violation of the ban, and faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 5,000 U.S. dollars.
The new law also requires a three-day waiting period on all gun purchases and allows the arming of some school employees.
