Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Today, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and friends threw a party in the courtroom—and won big!
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled that Minnesota’s ban on young adults carrying concealed is unconstitutional.
That’s right, the three-judge panel, in a 27-page decision, gave the thumbs up to gun rights for the youngins.
Teaming up for the case, known as Worth v. Jacobson, SAF was in good company with the Firearms Policy Coalition, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and four feisty citizens: Austin Dye, Alex Anderson, Joe Knudsen, and Kristin Worth.
These guys were backed by a squad of sharp attorneys from both Bemidji, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.
Circuit Judge Duane Benton, dropping some constitutional wisdom:
“Importantly, the Second Amendment’s plain text does not have an age limit…. Ordinary, law-abiding 18 to 20-year-old Minnesotans are unambiguously members of the people. Because the plain text of the Second Amendment covers the plaintiffs and their conduct, it is presumptively constitutionally protected…”
SEE ALSO: Ruger 10/22 Target Review: Fast Shooting And Competition Ready
Benton made it clear: Minnesota didn’t bring enough to the table to justify this carry ban. It’s unconstitutional, no ifs, ands, or buts, especially through the lens of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Alan M. Gottlieb, SAF’s founder and Executive VP, was pleased.
“This is a significant victory for the rights of young adults,” said SAF Gottlieb. “It is one more step in our crusade to win firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time.”
Adam Kraut, SAF’s Executive Director, also chimed in.
“We are encouraged that, yet another circuit court has correctly concluded that 18-20-year-olds are, in fact, part of ‘the People’ to which the Second Amendment extends,” said Kraut.
“This nation’s history and tradition demonstrate that the bans affecting young adults are not consistent with the right to keep and bear arms and SAF will continue to aggressively challenge these bans which create a tiered system of constitutional rights,” he continued.
So, another day, another win for SAF and the rights of young adults across Minnesota. Who’s next?
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE! ***
This is a final ruling. Minnesota will not appeal, as that would likely make a “bad” decision even worse if SCOTUS affirmed. That’s what happened when D.C. was forced to adopt a shall issue CCW law–it was pressured not to appeal by New York and California becasue they did nbot want that law coming their way. (It did anyway.)