The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of an amended complaint and a motion for preliminary injunction or summary judgment in Young v. Ott, a federal lawsuit that challenges Pennsylvania’s laws banning 18- to 20-year-old adults from carrying firearms for lawful purposes outside the home.
Background on Young v. Ott
Introduction to the Case
The case of Young v. Ott involves a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania by plaintiffs Hannah Young, Ariana Palmaccio, the Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. (FPC), and the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) against James Ott, Sheriff of Blair County, Brian Szumski, Sheriff of Luzerne County, and Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Legal Claims
The plaintiffs are challenging the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s age restrictions on obtaining a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF), which currently prohibits adults under the age of 21 from applying. They argue that this restriction violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by denying them and other similarly situated adults their right to bear arms for self-defense outside the home.
Details of the Complaint
According to the complaint:
- The plaintiffs assert that the right to carry a handgun for self-defense is a core Second Amendment right, as affirmed by recent Supreme Court rulings.
- They contend that adults, including those aged 18 to 20, should not be excluded from this right as they are considered legal adults for most other purposes, such as voting and military service.
- Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act (UFA) requires a LTCF to carry a concealed firearm or to transport a firearm in a vehicle. However, the UFA prohibits issuing these licenses to individuals under 21, which the plaintiffs argue unlawfully targets a specific age group without proper justification.
Impact of the Regulation
The prohibition has significant implications, especially considering the number of schools and the designation of school zones across Pennsylvania. The complaint highlights that the federal “Gun-Free School Zones Act” also restricts carrying firearms within 1,000 feet of school grounds, complicating the ability for young adults to exercise their rights without a LTCF.
Relief Sought
The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the age-based prohibition is unconstitutional and an injunction preventing enforcement of this prohibition against them and similarly situated individuals. They also seek nominal damages and legal costs.
Broader Implications
This case is part of a broader national conversation about the rights of young adults to carry firearms and reflects ongoing legal debates following landmark Supreme Court decisions that have expanded interpretations of the Second Amendment. The outcome could influence similar laws across the United States and is being closely watched by both gun rights advocates and gun control proponents.
“The harm here is irreparable: Plaintiffs and all similarly situated, law-abiding 18-to-20-year-olds are broadly restricted from exercising their fundamental right to carry firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes in Pennsylvania,” the motion argues.
“In case after case, courts have agreed with us and held that bans on carry by adults under 21 years of age violate the constitutionally protected right to bear arms,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. “We look forward to eliminating this immoral and unconstitutional ban so all peaceable adults can defend themselves and their families in public places.”
The Young case is part of FPC’s high-impact strategic litigation program, FPC Law, aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty. FPC was joined in the litigation by two individual FPC members and the National Rifle Association. FPC thanks FPC Action Foundation for its strategic support of this FPC Law case.
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Firearms Policy Coalition
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube.
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