A west Michigan teen says a new policy at Dick's Sporting Goods that raised the minimum age for purchasing a firearm from 18 to 21 violates his civil rights.

Tristin M. Fulton, 18, of Battle Creek, attempted to purchase a shotgun at Dick's Sporting Goods, 562 W. 14 Mile in Troy, on March 5 and was turned away, based on the new policy, which was announced Feb. 28.

The new policy -- similar to another instituted by Walmart -- was instituted after 17 people were killed during a massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14.

Fulton can legally own firearms under state and federal law, and his attorney, Dearborn-based James J. Makowski, argues the store policy violates Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976, which prohibits discrimination based on age, as well as as race, gender, and religion.

The Act also prohibits posting of signs that indicate a person will be denied certain privileges -- such as the ability to purchase a firearm -- because of their age, race, sex, religion, marital status and other personal traits.

Makowski, who filed the $25,000-plus lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court, says such signs exist inside the store Fulton visited, which would also violate Elliott-Larsen.

"You actually have to be 21 to look at any firearms," a Dick's employee told Fulton when he provided ID and attempted to look at firearms on March 5, a video of the exchange shows.

Fulton cites the Elliott-Larsen Act and is told, "It doesn't matter; it's for our company. They call the shots."

Fulton is not the only person to test the new policy.

Tyler Watson, 20, of Oregon, has filed similar lawsuits against both Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart in that state, claiming the policies violate Oregon's anti-discrimination laws.

Full lawsuit: