A consortium of gun rights advocates filed their opening appellate brief this week against California’s notorious firearm purchase ban carried out against young adults. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), and the California Gun Rights Foundation submitted their case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in PWGG v. Bonta, seeking to overturn what they call a discriminatory and unconstitutional restriction on law-abiding citizens aged 18 to 20.
The case is the latest in a series of high-profile legal challenges aiming to restore Second Amendment protections to demographics targeted by overreaching gun control laws.
Advocates Charge California Lawmakers Arbitrarily Stripped Gun Rights from Young Adults
At the heart of the coalition’s argument is the assertion that California lawmakers acted with blatant disregard for constitutional protections when they imposed the ban. The law currently prohibits federally licensed firearms dealers from selling or transferring firearms to individuals under 21, except in limited circumstances—such as if the individual has a hunting license or serves in the military or law enforcement.
Bill Sack, Director of Legal Operations at SAF, did not hold back in his condemnation of the state’s actions. “California lawmakers believe they can vote away the fundamental rights of a subset of the adult population,” he said. “But fortunately for all Americans, the rights codified in our Constitution are memorialized there to prevent precisely that sort of behavior.”
Sack went on to pose a deeper question: if the state can deny Second Amendment rights to young adults, what’s stopping them from stripping away other constitutional rights like free speech or protection against unlawful search and seizure?
This line of reasoning underscores the broader implications of the case—not just for gun rights, but for civil liberties at large.
The Underlying Question Is Whether Young Adults Are Genuinely Part of ‘The People’
This case challenges the assumption that young adults are somehow less entitled to constitutional protections than their older peers. Plaintiffs argue that 18- to 20-year-olds are legally adults in nearly every aspect of society. They can vote, join the military, sign contracts, and be tried as adults in court. Yet California has carved out an exception when it comes to gun ownership—a fundamental right recognized by the Second Amendment.
The coalition points out that the policy does nothing to enhance public safety and in fact endangers it. By disarming responsible young adults, the state is making them more vulnerable to criminal threats. Moreover, businesses involved in selling firearms argue that the law arbitrarily cuts off a significant portion of their customer base without any sound justification.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to recognize that age-based restrictions on fundamental rights are inherently flawed, especially when they target those who are otherwise full members of society.
A National Battle with Widespread Implications for Civil Rights
The challenge to California’s gun ban for young adults is more than just a state-level skirmish. It has national implications. If successful, this case could influence how courts across the country evaluate similar age-based restrictions. The Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which required gun laws to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, has become the standard for evaluating Second Amendment cases—and the plaintiffs believe California’s law fails that test.
If the 9th Circuit agrees, it could open the door to further lawsuits that challenge age-based and other discriminatory gun laws. It would also affirm that all adult Americans, regardless of age, are protected under the Constitution.
The gun rights coalition is optimistic, but the legal journey is far from over. As the case moves forward, gun owners and civil liberties advocates alike will be watching closely to see whether the courts side with the Constitution—or allow states to continue chipping away at fundamental freedoms.
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