Supreme Court overturns lower court ruling on young adults carrying firearms in PA

The Second Amendment landscape in Pennsylvania made headlines this week after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court's ruling regarding adults aged 18-20 carrying guns in public.

According to CNN, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling, which allowed adults in that age range to carry in certain situations such as statewide emergencies.

The outlet noted:

At issue was a state law that barred 18-to-20 years olds from open carrying firearms during declared states of emergencies. The court’s decision tosses a federal appeals court ruling that found the law violated the Second Amendment.

No dissents were filed, and the court didn't offer any explanation for its ruling.

The original case was filed by three plaintiffs who sought the ability to carry a firearm for self-defense in states of emergency, such as the one declared in the state during the pandemic.

Supreme Court Upholds Pennsylvania Law Restricting Gun Rights for Those Under 21

The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to leave in place a Pennsylvania law that bars individuals under the age of 21 from carrying firearms in public. This decision overturns a lower court ruling that… pic.twitter.com/5z0CrAtuen

— SCOTUS Bulletin (@SCOTUSBulletin) October 15, 2024

Those three individuals and two gun rights groups challenged the law that barred adults of that age from carrying during an emergency.

CNN noted:

Relying on the Supreme Court’s landmark Second Amendment decision from 2022, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, a divided three-judge appeals court panel found that the law was unconstitutional because there was not a similar law on the books at the time the Second Amendment was ratified.

State officials argued that the lower federal court's ruling that allowed young adults to carry in times of emergency was an "overreading" of the Supreme Court's Bruen ruling.

Social media users reacted to the decision, with many questioning why SCOTUS ruled the way it did in this particular case.

"So they’re not allowed to carry guns until 22? Does this mean they cannot be drafted or join the military until 22 as well? What’s the deal? Am I not understanding? I guess I’ve been burdened by what has been," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "Then, they shouldn't get to vote or be accepted into any military branch until 21 either then."

However, the Supreme Court urged the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the case.

Hopefully, the outcome will be favorable for law-abiding gun owners.