SCOTUS review sought in federal ban on young adults' handgun purchases

The Second Amendment Foundation and its partners have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for review in Brown v. ATF, SAF’s challenge to the federal ban that prevents adults ages 18 to 20 from purchasing handguns from licensed dealers.

SAF is representing the plaintiffs in the case, and the organization’s Petition for Certiorari highlights the circuit split that has emerged on the issue, with the Fifth Circuit striking down the law earlier this year in SAF’s Reese v. ATF case, while the Fourth Circuit upheld it in Brown.

Joining SAF in the case are the West Virginia Citizens Defense League and a private citizen, Alec La Neve.

“The issue of 18-20-year-olds purchasing handguns is split between two circuit courts across the nation,” said SAF Executive Director and attorney of record in the case Adam Kraut. “Additionally, the circuit courts are split as to the ability of this age group being able to acquire and carry firearms more broadly. There is no doubt that adults under 21 are part of “the People” and therefore should be afforded the same rights as other adults, and in particular, be able to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights by purchasing a handgun — the ‘quintessential self-defense weapon.’ We are optimistic the High Court will agree to hear the case and end the confusion that permeates the rights of this group of adults once and for all.”

As noted in the cert petition, “The Second Amendment … reflects the sacred national value that part of what it means to be an American is to enjoy the right to defend yourself, your family, and your community with common firearms. By preventing an entire class of Americans — law-abiding 18-to-20-year-olds — from acquiring handguns on the commercial market cuts to the very heart of this fundamental American value.”

“Eliminating the young adult handgun purchase ban is a key component of our broader strategy to restore and expand gun rights,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Our ultimate goal is to stop this unconstitutional ban which forbids peaceable legal adults, who just so happen to be under 21, from fully exercising their Second Amendment rights.”

Republished with permission from Second Amendment Foundation.

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