A recent federal appeals court decision has declared Minnesota’s prohibition on issuing gun carry permits to individuals aged 18 to 20 as unconstitutional.
In a 27-page ruling, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that Minnesota lacked sufficient evidence to justify denying the Second Amendment right to carry handguns in public for self-defense to young adults.
The unanimous ruling confirmed that the constitutional right to bear arms extends to individuals in the 18 to 20 age group.
U.S. Circuit Judge Duane Benton, along with two other judges appointed by Republican presidents, referenced the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen to support the decision that Minnesota’s law from 2003 was invalid.
This ruling emerged after gun rights groups contested the Minnesota law in a lawsuit filed back in 2021, arguing that the age restrictions infringed upon their Second Amendment rights.
Rob Doar, from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, welcomed the decision, emphasizing that permit holders are law-abiding citizens and encouraging eligible 18 to 20-year-olds to apply for carry permits, given they meet the necessary legal criteria.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling, decrying the impact on efforts to enhance public safety and reduce gun violence.
The state had argued that young adults in the 18 to 20 age bracket might not possess the maturity or responsibility to handle firearms safely. However, the court highlighted that the Second Amendment does not specify an age limit, implying protection for responsible young adults.
“Importantly, the Second Amendment’s plain text does not have an age limit,” Benton underscored in the ruling.
The court dismissed the state’s crime statistics as insufficient evidence to prove that young adults obtaining carry permits posed an increased risk, as reported by the AP.
News of the appeals court’s decision comes shortly after U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy labeled gun violence as a public health crisis, citing alarming statistics on deaths among young Americans.
Advocates for gun control believe that restricting access to certain firearms could help lower shooting incidents, while opponents argue that stricter gun laws may infringe upon Second Amendment rights.