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50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
Firearm rights are an ongoing issue in the United States. While the Second Amendment provides Americans with the right to bear arms, there are many concerns about how the proliferation of guns may affect public safety. Due to the large number of school shootings that have taken place over the past couple of decades, some states have passed laws restricting minors from owning or possessing firearms. However, these laws may be called into question as the Supreme Court rules on whether they are constitutional.
As the laws related to firearms change, minors or adults may need to determine what steps to take if they are arrested and charged with weapons offenses. An attorney with a strong understanding of the applicable laws and experience in criminal defense can provide legal guidance and representation in these cases, working to resolve weapons charges while protecting a person’s rights.
Different courts throughout the United States have reached different decisions when addressing laws related to the possession of firearms by teenagers. After a high-profile school shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2017, the state of Florida passed a law prohibiting the sale of firearms to people under the age of 21. This law was challenged in court, and recently, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law should be upheld, because people under the age of 21 were considered minors when the Second Amendment was adopted.
A court that addressed a similar law in Minnesota reached a different decision. In this case, Minnesota passed a law making it illegal for people under the age of 21 to carry firearms in public. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against this law, finding that people as young as 18 years old should have the right to bear arms. This decision was based on the fact that the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, which indicates that people at this age should be considered adults. This case may soon be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the decision it makes may determine whether laws restricting firearm possession and ownership by minors will be upheld or struck down.
Some of the confusion regarding these laws is due to another recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. In that case, the Supreme Court found that laws restricting gun ownership must be consistent with the historical traditions of firearm regulation in the United States. However, there is some disagreement about whether the Second Amendment or other firearm laws have historically addressed ownership of guns by minors. When considering this issue, the Supreme Court may decide whether 18-year-olds are considered adults who have the right to purchase, possess, and carry firearms.
The state of Connecticut restricts minors from carrying firearms. Under the state’s laws, anyone who carries a handgun must have a permit, and an eligibility certificate is required to purchase a handgun. These certificates and permits are only available to people over the age of 21. A minor under the age of 21 who is found in possession of a handgun could be arrested and charged with a weapons offense.
As the laws surrounding firearms change, people may be charged with weapons offenses without realizing that they had committed a violation. In these situations, legal representation from an experienced lawyer is crucial. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our Connecticut weapons crimes attorneys can help defend against these charges, working to minimize the potential penalties a person may face while protecting their rights. To learn more about how we can assist with these cases, contact us at 860-290-8690 and arrange a free consultation.
50 Founders Plaza
