FPC Sues Louisiana Over 21-Year-Old Handgun Carry Ban
Firearms Policy Coalition filed suit against Louisiana over a state law barring adults under 21 from carrying handguns, targeting a legal vulnerability the Supreme Court created by refusing to settle the age question. The lawsuit exposes a circuit court split: the Third Circuit ruled Pennsylvania's identical ban unconstitutional, while the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits upheld similar restrictions in their jurisdictions.
Key Details
- Louisiana's law prohibits handgun carry for anyone under 21, with limited exceptions for hunting and sport shooting.
- Third Circuit precedent (Pennsylvania case) found the under-21 restriction violated the Second Amendment under District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.
- Fourth and Eleventh Circuits upheld comparable age restrictions in their regions, creating direct conflict in federal case law.
- Supreme Court silence: SCOTUS has not granted certiorari on the age question, leaving the circuit split unresolved and enforcement fragmented across states.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
This lawsuit directly affects millions of Americans ages 18-20 who own firearms legally but are blocked from carrying them for self-defense in Louisiana and similar states. If FPC prevails, it could force states from Florida to Virginia to rewrite carry laws and age thresholds. Younger shooters—military-age adults included—face criminalization for exercising rights their peers enjoy in other circuits. The ruling will also signal whether courts take Bruen's text-and-history test seriously when applied to age-based restrictions, or whether judges continue inventing carve-outs for categories the Framers didn't explicitly exclude. Gun owners in affected states should monitor this case closely; it will likely determine whether your state's age limits survive constitutional review.
DownRange Analysis
The Third Circuit's Pennsylvania decision provides a strong roadmap: courts applying Bruen honestly will struggle to defend blanket 21-year-old bans on historical grounds. The Framers did not restrict militia service or arms bearing by age 18. FPC has a realistic path to victory, particularly if the case reaches a panel that takes text-and-history seriously. The real question is whether Louisiana will settle or fight—and whether other circuits will flip their rulings once one appellate body rules clearly against the age restriction. This case will likely accelerate SCOTUS intervention, since conflicting circuits demand Supreme Court resolution. Gun owners under 21 should not assume these bans are permanent law.
