The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Minnesota asking to revive the state's ban on gun-carry permits for young adults.
The justices also left in place a ban on guns at the University of Michigan, declining to hear an appeal from a man who argued he has a right to be armed on campus. No justice noted a dissent in either case.
“This is a resounding victory for 18-20-year-old adults who wish to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms,” stated Bryan Strawser, Chair, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.
Taken together, the actions reflect the high court's apparent lack of appetite for cases that further explore the constitutional right to “keep and bear arms.”
The court has repeatedly turned away gun cases since its 2022 ruling that expanded gun rights and a clarifying 2024 decision that upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence.
Minnesota's Attorney General Office cited more than 30 other states with similar restrictions, saying gun injuries are the leading cause of death among children and teens. The office called the age restriction "modest", considering young people already have significant access to guns, including no age restriction when supervised by a parent or guardian.
The Supreme Court said while a government can ban guns from those who pose a threat to the safety of others, Minnesota has failed to show that 18 to 20-year old's specifically pose such a threat.
The decision not to hear the Minnesota case was somewhat surprising because both sides sought the Supreme Court's review and courts around the country have come to different conclusions about whether states can limit the gun rights of people aged 18 to 20 without violating the Constitution.
The federal appeals court in St. Louis ruled that the Minnesota ban conflicted with the Second Amendment, which the court noted sets no age limit and generally protects ordinary, law-abiding young adults.
At the time, 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," explained 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 said. "So it's been a long time coming, but we're pleased with the result."
In January, the federal appeals court in New Orleans struck down a federal law requiring young adults to be 21 to buy handguns.
In February, a federal judge declined to block Hawaii's ban on gun possession for people under 21.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.