Federal court rejects Texas carry ban for adults under-21

It’s a big win for Second Amendment advocates, but Thursday’s decision by U.S District Judge Mark Pittman won’t immediately change Texas law.

The judge has stayed his ruling for 30 days to give state time to appeal, which raises some questions about just how hard Republican officials will fight to keep the current ban in place, especially with polls suggesting a majority of Texas voters are in favor of some additional gun control measures including raising the age to purchase a rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21.

While that idea might be politically popular in some quarters, it would also be unconstitutional. Pittman struck down the state’s carry ban on adults under the age of 21 for the most obvious of reasons; that age group has clearly been able to access their Second Amendment rights throughout U.S. history, including at the time of the founding.