FPC, NRA Team Up to Challenge Pennsylvania’s Age-Based Firearm Carry Ban

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced that it has filed a new federal lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s law banning 18-20-year-olds from applying for Licenses to Carry Firearms (LTCFs). FPC is joined in the litigation by two FPC members and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The lawsuit, styled Young v. Ott, comes as the Third Circuit is considering an FPC lawsuit challenging another one of the state’s age-based carry bans. The complaint can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/young.

“On their eighteenth birthday, the Plaintiffs in this case became legal adults for almost all purposes and certainly for the purpose of exercising their other constitutionally protected rights. They can vote, enter into contracts, and get married. They can join the military to fight and die for their country. And as adults, there are no parents or other legal guardians legally responsible for their care and protection. Yet, the laws challenged in this case prevent Plaintiffs from exercising their Second Amendment protected rights on par with all other law-abiding adult Americans,” the complaint states.

“Governments like Pennsylvania cannot deny the right to bear arms to otherwise eligible legal adults. We are proud to join forces with the NRA in this important case and look forward to eliminating these unconstitutional age-based bans throughout the United States,” said FPC President Brandon Combs.

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

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.