Attorney General Kwame Raoul has taken a leading role in a coalition of 19 attorneys general urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit to reconsider its decision that invalidated a Pennsylvania law. This law restricts individuals under 21 from carrying concealed weapons in public and imposes additional restrictions during declared states of emergency.
The coalition's amicus brief calls on the court to revisit its recent ruling favoring plaintiffs in Lara v. Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. This case challenges the Pennsylvania statute limiting concealed carry permits to those aged 21 and older. Previously, Raoul led efforts in September 2021 defending this law.
Raoul stated, “The courts have made clear that states retain the ability to craft gun safety regulations that protect the public from gun violence.” He emphasized his commitment to working with other attorneys general to support states' rights to enact such regulations.
The brief highlights concerns that if left unchallenged, the court's opinion could cast doubt on similar laws in over 30 states with age-related firearm access restrictions. Raoul and his colleagues argue these laws are constitutional and consistent with historical precedents dating back more than 150 years. They warn that adopting this reasoning elsewhere could undermine various state firearms regulations.
This initiative is part of Attorney General Raoul’s broader efforts to tackle gun violence both within Illinois and nationally. His office has developed tools like Crime Gun Connect, a crime-gun tracing database for Illinois law enforcement, and collaborates with local authorities on gun trafficking issues. Additionally, they work to raise awareness about Illinois’ red flag law and address shortcomings in firearms licensing systems.
Furthermore, Raoul's office has partnered with entities like the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to prevent targeted violence through training sessions for community members including law enforcement officers, educators, and religious leaders.
On a national level, Attorney General Raoul has been an advocate for stricter regulations on 3D-printed guns and ghost guns. Despite state-level prohibitions on ghost guns in Illinois, his office continues fighting at the federal level to close existing loopholes while defending Illinois’ firearm regulations in ongoing court cases.
In addition to supporting law enforcement efforts, Raoul’s office provides backing for victim service providers throughout Illinois offering trauma-informed services for crime victims and their families via its Crime Victim Services Division.
Attorneys general joining Raoul in filing this amicus brief include representatives from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont and Washington.