By: Richard L. Smith
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, leading a coalition of 19 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
This brief urges the court to reconsider its decision that struck down a Pennsylvania law restricting individuals under the age of 21 from carrying concealed weapons in public, with additional limitations during states of emergency.
The case at the center of this appeal, Lara v. Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, previously saw a panel favoring the plaintiffs — three young adults aged between 18 and 20, along with two gun advocacy groups.
They are challenging Pennsylvania's law that generally bars those under 21 from obtaining concealed carry permits.
Attorney General Platkin voiced serious concerns over the implications of the panel's decision, stating, "Gun violence is a public health crisis that threatens the health and safety of all New Jerseysans, including our kids."
He believes that the Third Circuit's ruling erroneously deprives states of an essential tool to safeguard residents against violence. Platkin argues that the Constitution does not prohibit legislatures from implementing commonsense safety measures, such as minimum age restrictions for gun ownership.
The attorneys general contend that if the panel opinion stands unamended, it could cast doubt on the constitutionality of similar age-restriction statutes in New Jersey and more than 30 other states.
These laws, historically upheld for over 150 years, are deemed constitutional.
The brief also emphasizes that the reasoning behind the opinion, if widely accepted, could hinder states' capacity to enforce various firearms regulations.
This filing aligns with Attorney General Platkin's commitment to combating gun violence both statewide and nationally.
His office has been actively involved in taking legal action against members of the gun industry and upholding New Jersey's gun safety laws.
Joining Attorney General Platkin in leading today's brief were the attorneys general of Illinois and Delaware.
They were supported by a group of attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.