Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking for a review of a recent decision by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the right of adults younger than 21 to obtain a permit to carry a firearm.
This after members of three firearms rights groups filed a complaint arguing Minnesota’s age restrictions infringed on their Second Amendment rights. The court ultimately agreed calling the law unconstitutional.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says the issue needs to be looked at with more common sense.
"Supervision regarding open carry for people under 21, I think is a common sense, public safety measure and I think the Supreme Court's going to listen to us if we eventually end up there," says the Attorney General.
After the Appeals Court ruling, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, who were a plaintiff in this case, applauded the decision.
"Our initial victory in this case was a year and a half ago at the district court level," Senior Vice President Rob Doar says. "So it's been a long time coming, but we're pleased with the result."
The 8th Circuit Court is the first in the country to invalidate a state law limiting permits to people 21 and older.
Ellison says restrictions were in place in Minnesota because the state believes 18 to 20-year old's aren't yet able to make responsible decisions with guns unsupervised.
"We have these, you know, unfortunate incidents with a firearm," Ellison says. "We've got to try to reduce this so we can stop tragedies affecting families in Minnesota. So we're appealing because we think the decision is wrongly decided, and we're going to pursue this thing as far as we can."
Right now the age restriction will remain in effect pending Ellison's ongoing appeal.