The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has an opportunity approaching to right a present wrong. In Commonwealth v. Williams, justices will decide if the state’s carry restrictions for young adults under 21 are lawful.
This week, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and Firearms Owners Against Crime filed an amicus brief in the case urging justices to protect gun rights.
Kareem Williams, Jr. was 19 when he was charged after a handgun was found in his fanny pack while he was the passenger in a vehicle. The advocacy groups argued that the restriction is arbitrary and constitutionally indefensible.
Gun rights supporters believe the statute violates equal protection under the law
In a release, the NRA explained that the current law ignores both the Constitution and clear Supreme Court rulings.
“Our brief argues that Pennsylvania’s restrictions on adults under 21 violate the Second Amendment,” the NRA charged. “The brief first explains that Supreme Court precedent establishes that 18-to-20-year-olds are among ‘the people’ protected by the Second Amendment because: (1) the Court has held that the Second Amendment ‘belongs to all Americans’; (2) the Court has explained that the traditional militia—which included 18-to-20-year-olds—consisted of a subset of ‘the people’; and (3) the Court has made clear that the Second Amendment protected the same ‘people’ as the First and Fourth Amendments, which both protect 18-to-20-year-olds.”
Full Second Amendment rights are denied to young adults in Pennsylvania
On its official website, the Pennsylvania government warns citizens that only those 21 years of age or older may apply for a carry license.
This is despite these same adults being perfectly capable of defending the country in the military, getting married, voting, and entering legally binding contracts.
Since 2022’s monumental SCOTUS ruling in Bruen, supporters of the right to keep and bear arms have mounted successful challenges to firearm restrictions on young adults. Despite the Supreme Court’s determination, these laws are still clinging to life in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.