A federal lawsuit filed in New Jersey seeks to strike down state and federal laws that prevent 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying firearms for self-defense, citing a recent Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling affirming their Second Amendment rights.
The lawsuit, Hague v. Murphy, was filed by the New Jersey Firearms Owners Syndicate (NJFOS) and the Second Amendment Foundation. It follows the Third Circuit’s decision in Lara v. Commissioner Pennsylvania State Police, which ruled that 18- to 20-year-olds are among “the people” protected by the Second Amendment and have the right to carry firearms outside their homes.
Click here to read the Hague v. Murphy complaint.
The Lara ruling, issued Jan. 18, 2024, and reaffirmed in 2025, struck down Pennsylvania laws restricting young adults from carrying firearms during a state of emergency. The court found no historical basis for such age-based restrictions.
The Hague v. Murphy lawsuit argues that New Jersey’s laws, which bar those under 21 from obtaining concealed-carry permits, violate the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs, noting that 18- to 20-year-olds can vote and serve in the military, seek an injunction to halt enforcement of these restrictions.
“The Second Amendment is a right, not a privilege, that belongs to all of the people,” NJFOS and the Second Amendment Foundation said in a statement.
The lawsuit targets New Jersey officials and federal authorities, aiming to align state law with the Third Circuit’s binding precedent. The case could influence firearm regulations across the Third Circuit, which includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
