PITTSBURGH – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a reply brief in support of its 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.

Summary

The laws that we are challenging in this case ban 18-to-20-year-olds from carrying firearms for self-defense any time they travel beyond walking distance from their homes. In Pennsylvania, an individual may not carry a concealed firearm without a license to do so and must be at least 21 years old to apply for such a license. Because the individual plaintiffs cannot acquire a carry license due to the State’s age-based ban, they cannot, for example, exercise their right to bear arms by carrying firearms in Philadelphia or anywhere they travel by car.

What We’re Working to Achieve

Through this lawsuit, we are working to secure some important wins for gun owners in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, including:

? An injunction blocking enforcement of Pennsylvania’s age-based firearm carry ban;

? A declaratory judgment that 18-to-20-year-olds have a right to carry firearms outside the home; and,

? Building precedent on our Third Circuit Court of Appeals victory in the Lara v. Paris case.

Get in the Fight — Support the Case!

Individuals who want to support this case and FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws across the United States can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org.

Quotes

FPC President Brandon Combs: “Most courts, including the Third Circuit, have held that adults under 21 years of age have the same Second Amendment rights as all other adults. We look forward to eliminating these bans and restoring the right to keep and bear arms for all peaceable adults.”

From the brief: “When Plaintiffs filed their motion for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, the State sought a stay pending a decision in Lara v. Commissioner Pennsylvania State Police. Now, displeased with the result in Lara II, the State acts like the case does not exist. This Court does not have that option. It is bound to follow Lara II’s holding that 18-to-20-year-olds have full Second Amendment rights and to rule in Plaintiffs’ favor.”

Case Documents

The brief in Young v. Ott can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/young.

Plaintiffs & Counsel

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.

The plaintiffs are represented by Gary F. Seitz of Gellert Seitz Busenkell & Brown, as well as David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, William V. Bergstrom, and Athanasia O. Livas of Cooper & Kirk.

FPC thanks FPC Action Foundation for its strategic support of this FPC Law case.

About FPC

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 is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, follow FPC on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.