A federal court has ruled that the state of Texas cannot prohibit 18- to 21-year-olds from obtaining a gun license and carrying handguns in public.
A law in Texas has banned 18- to 21-year-olds who are not in the military from obtaining a gun license and carrying handguns in public.
It was sued by the Firearms Policy Coalition, an organization that defends the right to own guns and which complained that the law violates the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees “the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.”
In June, the US Supreme Court ruled for the first time that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to bear arms in public places for their own safety.
At the same time in its ruling, the Supreme Court asked federal courts to apply the “historicity” test when considering appeals against laws regulating gun ownership.
This means that a piece of legislation can only be considered constitutional if it resembles the laws in effect in the 18th century when the Second Amendment was ratified.
The restriction in place in Texas only applied to handguns, as anyone can purchase a rifle in the state once they turn 18. That’s what happened to the 18-year-old gunman at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, who in May killed 19 children and two teachers with a semi-automatic rifle.
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has not yet commented on the court’s decision.
Last year Abbott signed legislation allowing Texas residents over the age of 21 to own a gun without having to undergo a background check or training.
The Firearms Policy Coalition announced that it has sued restrictive laws in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Illinois, Minnesota, California and Georgia.
“This decision is an important victory for the rights of young adults in Texas and demonstrates that similar bans across the country cannot withstand the constitutional test based on historicity,” said Cody Wisniewski of the organization’s legal team.
The court’s decision does not take effect immediately, as the state has 30 days to appeal.
Source: RES-MPE
Source: Capital
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