The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general calling on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit to revisit a recent decision that struck down a Minnesota law prohibiting individuals under 21 from carrying concealed handguns in public.
Led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the coalition filed an amicus brief with the court on August 1.
In the brief, the coalition urges the court to rehear its ruling, which sided with plaintiffs challenging Minnesota’s law restricting carry permits for those under 21.
Read: Mississippi Sues Biden Admin Over Alleged Illegal Executive Order On Voter Registration Effort
Massachusetts has similar restrictions, requiring applicants for a License to Carry to be at least 21 years old.
The attorneys general say that the court’s decision, if left unchecked, could undermine similar laws in more than 30 states with age-based restrictions on firearms access.
They argue these laws are constitutional, citing more than 150 years of legal precedent supporting age restrictions. The coalition contends that if the court’s reasoning is applied in other cases, it could jeopardize states’ ability to enforce various firearms regulations.
Read: Massachusetts, Despite Sanctuary Status, Faces Record Deportation Cases Amid Migrant Crisis
In addition to Massachusetts, the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington also signed the brief.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.