Weekly Spotlight 7/25/24 – 8/1/24

U.S. Court of Appeals Strikes Down Minnesota Law Barring 18-20 Year-Olds from Publicly Carrying Guns

In a significant victory for Second Amendment advocates, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently struck down a Minnesota law that prohibited individuals ages 18-20 years old from publicly carrying firearms. This is a landmark decision that reinforces the constitutional rights of American adults, young and old alike, to protect themselves.

The Minnesota law in question, which had been in place since 2003, was challenged by several individuals and groups who argued that it infringed upon their Second Amendment rights. Ultimately, the Court of Appeals agreed, stating that the right to bear arms “shall not be infringed” applies universally to all law-abiding citizens, regardless of age. The court emphasized that the Second Amendment does not contain an age restriction and that the young adults in question possess the same rights to self-defense as older citizens.

This decision aligns with the broader trend of courts across the country recognizing and upholding the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. It reflects a growing acknowledgment that age-based restrictions on adult gun ownership and carrying are inconsistent with the Second Amendment’s clear mandate.

This ruling could have significant implications for similar laws in other states and sets a precedent that could lead to further challenges and potential reversals of age-based gun restrictions. The decision serves as a reaffirmation of the right to self-defense and the protection of individual liberties and hopes that other states will follow suit, recognizing the Second amendment rights of all legal adults. 

This decision also underscores the crucial importance of electing pro-gun lawmakers at the state level. Ensuring that local representatives are committed to protecting Second Amendment rights is vital for the prolonged protection of these freedoms. State legislatures will continue to play a critical role in shaping firearm laws, and having pro-gun advocates in these positions can help safeguard our constitutional rights against overreach and restrictive regulations. As this case shows, the courts can uphold our rights, but proactive legislation by pro-gun lawmakers is essential for maintaining and expanding these freedoms.

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OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Bloomberg Law: Federal Ban On Felons Having A Gun Faces Appeals Court Scrutiny

A defendant convicted under a federal law barring felons from possessing a firearm argued to the Sixth Circuit Tuesday that the law doesn’t hold up under the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision—but the judges questioned if the issue had been properly preserved for their review. Oral argument centered around whether the defendant, Robert Burrell, was timely in bringing his Bruen challenge so the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit could review it de novo rather than for a plain error in the lower court’s decision dismissing the challenge.

Associated Press (Wisconsin): Wisconsin Agrees To Drop Ban On Carrying Firearms While Fishing Following Challenge

People fishing in Wisconsin will soon be able to carry firearms after a rule banning them was rescinded by the state following a lawsuit brought by gun rights advocates. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources agreed in an order released Wednesday to rescind the rule barring anglers from carrying firearms. The lawsuit challenging the ban as a violation of the constitutional right to bear arms was brought by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.

Guns.com (Massachusetts): Massachusetts Passes Sweeping New Anti-Gun Bill

Lawmakers in “The Bay State” last week agreed on a massive 111-page package of gun control measures that 2A advocates describe as radical. The bill, H. 4885, was reported out of conference on July 18 in a 124 to 33 roll call, largely along party lines. A three-page summary of the bill details that it implements a variety of new arbitrary bans on certain firearms, creates a gun registry, enacts extreme training requirements for those seeking to possess legal firearms, and buries licensed gun dealers in the Commonwealth in new layers of bureaucratic red tape.

Buckeye Firearms Association (California): California Tracking Firearms Credit Card Use, But Criminals — Not So Much

Remember just two short years ago when California officials apologized after a trove of private personal information of concealed carry permit holders was “leaked?” The sensitive information included the names, dates of birth, gender, race, driver’s license numbers and addresses of permit holders. That data leak also included the type of permit issued, indicating if the permit holder was a member of law enforcement or a judge.

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