Judge knocks down law in Minnesota preventing certain adults from obtaining gun permits

A Minnesota law that prohibited people between the ages of 18-20 from obtaining permits to carry handguns in public has been struck down by a judge. The law, which had been in force since 2003, was challenged by three people under 21 years old who argued that it prevented young adults from exercising their Second Amendment right. U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Menendez agreed with their argument and deemed the law unconstitutional in her 50-page ruling, preventing the state from enforcing it, according to Fox News.

The ruling was based on the fact that the law could not be justified under historical precedent, as there was no tradition of depriving 18-20 year olds of the right to carry handguns for self-defense in public. Judge Menendez also cited the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, which established a new legal test for evaluating firearm possession laws.

Bryan Stawser, chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, hailed the ruling as a “resounding victory for 18-20-year-old adults who wish to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms.” Rob Doar, the group’s senior vice president & political director, warned anti-gun politicians in Minnesota that “unconstitutional infringements” on Second Amendment rights would not be tolerated.

However, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed an emergency motion for a stay of the ruling, arguing that it would lead to many young people possessing invalid permits and would therefore be detrimental to the public interest.