BOSTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging a state law that prohibits adults from age 18 to 20 from acquiring, possessing, or carrying semiautomatic firearms and handguns.
The Second Amendment Foundation, along with the National Rifle Association, the Gun Owners Action League, Commonwealth Second Amendment, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and a private citizen are challenging the law.
The case, Escher V. Mason, argues that the law violates the second amendment and unfairly denies young adults their constitutional rights.
The defendants of this lawsuit are Colonel Christopher Mason, superintendent of the Massachusetts state police, and the chief of police in Brewster.
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by gun rights organizations to challenge state and local firearm restrictions in the wake of recent Supreme Court rulings that have strengthened second amendment protections.
The lawsuit targets provisions of a Massachusetts house bill, which Governor Maura Healey signed into law back in July of last year.
Prosecutors argue that the statute is unconstitutional and denies young adults the ability to own and carry semiautomatic firearms and handguns despite their status as adults.
The outcome could have significant implications for similar laws in other states that impose age-based restrictions on firearm ownership.
If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it could have a domino effect for striking down other laws that possibly limit the second amendment rights of young adults.
Here is the link to the official court filing.
We’ll have more details to share on this story later today.
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