The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s prohibition against allowing young adults aged 18 to 20 from acquiring a license to carry a firearm (LTCF) for personal protection. The case is known as Brown v. Paris.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. SAF is joined by three young adults, all who are SAF members. They are Taylor Brown, Shawn Palmer and Max Ness. They are represented by attorneys Joshua Prince at the Civil Rights Defense Firm in Bechtelsville, Pa., and Adam Kraut at the Second Amendment Foundation. Named as the sole defendant in the case is Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, in his official capacity.
“Our individual plaintiffs have no criminal backgrounds and would like to procure a LTCF,” said Kraut, who also serves as SAF’s executive director. “However, the state law precludes them from carrying firearms, whether openly or concealed, in public for self-defense. Yet, a look back at history reveals young adults between 18 and 20 were fully protected by the Second Amendment at the time of its ratification. Indeed, at the time of the founding, young adults in this age group were actually required to keep and bear arms.”
SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb noted, “As we explain in our lawsuit, SAF has members and supporters all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and we are bringing this action on their behalf. Our young adult members would lawfully carry and legally transport firearms for personal protection and the protection of their loved ones, and others, but for the defendant’s enforcement of the laws we are challenging.”
The lawsuit asks for a declaratory judgment, a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, followed by a permanent injunction.
