The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has declined to rehear a case that previously overturned Minnesota's ban on issuing concealed carry permits to 18-20-year-olds.
As Breitbart News reported, the case Worth v. Harrington was initially decided by a three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit in July.
This decision, announced on August 21, 2024, maintains the earlier ruling that struck down the state's gun control measure. The court's refusal to rehear the case comes as a victory for gun rights advocates, including the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
The original ruling was based on the Supreme Court's Bruen decision from 2022, which set new standards for evaluating gun control laws.
The three-judge panel that initially struck down the Minnesota ban consisted of George W. Bush appointees Lavenski Smith and Duane Benton and Donald Trump appointee David Stras. Their decision reflected a strict interpretation of Second Amendment rights, in line with recent Supreme Court guidance.
The Eighth Circuit's denial of both a rehearing and an en banc review (a hearing before all judges of the court) solidifies the earlier ruling.
This development is significant as it upholds the expansion of gun rights for younger adults in Minnesota, a demographic previously restricted from obtaining concealed carry permits.
The case has drawn attention from both gun rights supporters and gun control advocates, as it represents another legal victory for those seeking to broaden Second Amendment protections.
Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, commented on the court's decision. He stated:
We are gratified by the Eight Circuit's decision, and now we will see whether Minnesota submits a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court. For the time being, we have notched another victory in our ongoing effort to win firearms freedom one lawsuit at a time.
Gottlieb's statement reflects the satisfaction of gun rights organizations with the outcome and hints at the possibility of further legal proceedings if Minnesota decides to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Eighth Circuit's refusal to rehear the case has immediate implications for Minnesota's gun control landscape. The state will now need to adjust its laws to allow 18-20-year-olds to apply for concealed carry permits, aligning with the court's interpretation of Second Amendment rights.
This development may also influence similar cases in other jurisdictions, potentially leading to challenges of comparable age-based restrictions on concealed carry permits in other states within the Eighth Circuit's purview.
In conclusion, the Eighth Circuit's decision not to rehear the Worth v. Harrington case maintains the earlier ruling that overturned Minnesota's ban on concealed carry permits for 18-20-year-olds. This outcome is seen as a victory for gun rights advocates and will require Minnesota to adjust its gun control laws. The case may have broader implications for similar age-based restrictions in other states and reflects the ongoing legal debates surrounding Second Amendment rights in the United States.
