What: The Supreme Court of the United States denied Pennsylvania officials’ request for review (certiorari) in Firearms Policy Coalition’s Bivens case, formerly captioned Lara v. Paris and Lara v. Evanchick, leaving in place FPC’s Third Circuit victory against Pennsylvania laws that banned peaceable adults under 21 from carrying firearms outside the home.
After FPC first prevailed at the Third Circuit in January 2024, the Supreme Court vacated and remanded the case for further consideration after it issued the June 2024 United States v. Rahimi decision. The Third Circuit then issued a new decision again holding that Pennsylvania’s ban violates the Second Amendment. Pennsylvania officials asked the Supreme Court to review that decision, but the Court rejected their petition today.
Who: The plaintiffs challenging Pennsylvania’s ban include FPC and the Second Amendment Foundation. The plaintiffs are represented by David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, John D. Ohlendorf, and William V. Bergstrom of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, along with Joshua Prince of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C.
When: June 30, 2026.
Where: The United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
Why: Today’s Supreme Court action leaves in place FPC’s win securing the right to bear arms for peaceable 18-to-20-year-old adults in Pennsylvania. This win adds to FPC’s growing record of victories including those against age-based gun bans. It also strengthens FPC’s ongoing Pennsylvania carry-license challenge in Young v. Ott, which seeks to ensure that adults under 21 can apply for and obtain the carry licenses needed to lawfully carry in public, carry in vehicles, and carry in Philadelphia.
Quote: “Today’s Supreme Court order makes clear that Pennsylvania’s ban is finally dead. FPC and our Grassroots Army beat this immoral and unconstitutional ban twice at the Third Circuit, and now the Supreme Court has allowed that victory to take effect. That matters not only for this case, but for others where FPC is fighting to make sure peaceable 18-to-20-year-old adults can actually obtain carry licenses and exercise their right to bear arms throughout Pennsylvania, including in Philadelphia. Anti-rights governments do not get to deny the rights of peaceable adults, full stop. FPC and our Grassroots Army will keep Fighting Forward until every age-based ban is eliminated.” — FPC President Brandon Combs
Contact: [email protected]
About Firearms Policy Coalition
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) is a nonprofit membership organization that exists to create a world of maximal individual liberty and eliminate unconstitutional gun control laws. FPC works—and wins—for the People through high-impact strategic litigation, groundbreaking research, legislative and regulatory advocacy, grassroots activism, education, and public engagement. FPC’s legal division, FPC Law, is the nation’s leading initiative dedicated to restoring the right to keep and bear arms across the United States. To learn more about how FPC is working—and winning—for the People, sign up for FPC news alerts at firearmspolicy.org and follow FPC on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
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