A major legal battle over who gets to carry a firearm in the Keystone State has reached the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), alongside the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Firearm Owners Against Crime, filed a formal amicus brief on March 18, 2026, targeting the state’s current ban on 18-to-20-year-olds carrying firearms for self-defense.
The filing comes in support of the appellant in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Kareem Mohammed Williams Jr. The core of the argument rests on the idea that law-abiding adults under the age of 21 are being unconstitutionally stripped of their right to protection.
The legal challenge centers on the “Bruen” standard, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires gun laws to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition.
Representatives for the SAF argue that at the time of the country’s founding, 18-year-olds were not only permitted to carry arms but were often required to do so.
“Pennsylvania’s ban defies Bruen by denying young adults their Second Amendment rights without any historical tradition of such age-based restrictions at the Founding,” stated Kostas Moros, SAF Director of Legal Research and Education. He noted that historically, this age group was considered part of “the People” and was frequently called upon for militia duty, which necessitated the possession of firearms.
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Key Points of the Brief
The amicus brief outlines several specific arguments intended to persuade the court:
- Definition of “The People”: The groups argue that 18-to-20-year-olds are protected by the First and Fourth Amendments, and therefore should not be excluded from the Second.
- Militia Mandates: The brief cites over 200 colonial-era statutes that required young adults to keep and bear arms for community defense.
- Founding Fathers’ Habits: Legal researchers pointed out that iconic figures like John Adams and James Monroe carried firearms as teenagers while attending school or traveling.
- Rejection of “Infancy” Labels: While 18-year-olds were once legally termed “infants” in regards to contracts, the SAF argues this was to protect them from bad deals, not to keep them from defending their lives.
The outcome of this case could affect thousands of residents across the state. Currently, Pennsylvania residents in this age bracket are barred from obtaining a license to carry, even if they have no criminal record.
Alan M. Gottlieb, SAF founder and Executive Vice President, emphasized that the organization has made the rights of young adults a top priority. “SAF is proud to join the other amicus parties in this effort to ensure that Pennsylvania may not continue to strip law-abiding citizens of their constitutional protections,” Gottlieb said.
The case is currently pending as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reviews the historical evidence and legal precedents provided by both the Commonwealth and the gun rights advocates.
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