One of the last laws limiting gun rights in Texas is unconstitutional. A federal judge ruled adults 18-20 in the Lone Star State have a Second Amendment right to carry a handgun outside the home.
Texas joined a growing number of Republican-led states and expanded gun rights last year. Now, most anyone 21 and older has the right to carry a handgun without a license, background check or training.
A few months later, a lawsuit was filed by a man, a woman, and a gun rights advocacy group argued they should be allowed to carry a gun for protection, even though they were not 21.
This week, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled in favor of the pair and the gun rights group on the basis of “the Second Amendment’s text, as informed by founding-era history and tradition.”
Judge Pittman stayed his ruling from taking effect for 30 days.
Gun rights supporters said the ruling is another victory for their cause and shows similar bans in other states won’t stand up to constitutional challenges.
The Texas Democratic Party lambasted the ruling, and urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, to call a special legislative session to pass “meaningful, widely-supported gun safety laws.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
