Buckeye Reporter

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and its partners have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review Brown v. ATF, a case challenging the federal law that prohibits adults aged 18 to 20 from buying handguns from licensed dealers.

The SAF is representing the plaintiffs in this case. Their Petition for Certiorari points out that there is a split among circuit courts on this issue. Earlier this year, the Fifth Circuit struck down the law in SAF’s Reese v. ATF case, while the Fourth Circuit upheld it in Brown.

Other parties joining SAF in this challenge include the West Virginia Citizens Defense League and Alec La Neve, a private citizen.

“The issue of 18-20-year-olds purchasing handguns is split between two circuit courts across the nation,” said Adam Kraut, SAF Executive Director and attorney of record in the case. “Additionally, the circuit courts are split as to the ability of this age group being able to acquire and carry firearms more broadly. There is no doubt that adults under 21 are part of ‘the People’ and therefore should be afforded the same rights as other adults, and in particular, be able to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights by purchasing a handgun — the ‘quintessential self-defense weapon.’ We are optimistic the High Court will agree to hear the case and end the confusion that permeates the rights of this group of adults once and for all.”

According to language included in their petition, “The Second Amendment … reflects the sacred national value that part of what it means to be an American is to enjoy the right to defend yourself, your family, and your community with common firearms. By preventing an entire class of Americans — law-abiding 18-to-20-year-olds — from acquiring handguns on the commercial market cuts to the very heart of this fundamental American value.”

Alan M. Gottlieb, founder and Executive Vice President of SAF stated: “Eliminating the young adult handgun purchase ban is a key component of our broader strategy to restore and expand gun rights. Our ultimate goal is to stop this unconstitutional ban which forbids peaceable legal adults, who just so happen to be under 21, from fully exercising their Second Amendment rights.”

The outcome could affect how federal laws regarding firearm purchases by young adults are enforced nationwide if taken up by Supreme Court review.