On Tuesday, the Supreme Court tossed out a decision that permitted 18-year-olds to openly carry firearms in Pennsylvania during declared emergencies.
The court upheld a ban preventing adults between the ages of 18 and 20 from carrying firearms in public during a state of emergency, with no dissents noted in the brief order, according to the Associated Press.
The current Supreme Court has been known to avoid hearing cases related to gun rights. This decision also comes in the wake of a landmark 2022 ruling that expanded gun rights nationwide and established stricter criteria for state-level gun regulations.
That 2022 ruling set a precedent requiring state gun control measures to align with the historical traditions of firearm regulation in the United States. As a result, several state gun control initiatives have been struck down by the courts.
Critics of Pennsylvania’s ban argued that such restrictions were inconsistent with historical practices, noting that during the country’s founding, young adults were not prohibited from carrying firearms. However, Pennsylvania officials countered that limits on gun-carrying for individuals under 21 have been in place since the 1850s.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court upheld a gun control law aimed at protecting domestic abuse victims, preventing individuals under restraining orders from obtaining firearms. On Tuesday, the court directed the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the Pennsylvania case following that decision, the AP reported.
