The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case of Lara v. Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. The coalition is urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit to reconsider its decision that struck down a Pennsylvania law prohibiting individuals under 21 from carrying concealed weapons in public during a state of emergency.
In 2025, the court sided with plaintiffs challenging the Pennsylvania law, which generally restricts concealed carry permits to those aged 21 and over and imposes additional restrictions during declared states of emergency. The attorneys general are asking for this decision to be revisited.
The coalition argues that if the court's opinion is not corrected, it could lead to questions about similar statutes' constitutionality in more than 30 states that have age restrictions on firearms access. They maintain these statutes are constitutional as they align with historical tradition, noting that similar laws have been enacted and enforced for over 150 years, allowing states to protect their communities against gun violence.
This effort marks another step by AG Campbell to address gun violence nationwide. In November 2023, AG Campbell launched the Gun Violence Prevention Unit (GVPU) to strengthen Massachusetts' leading gun laws. Additionally, in September 2024, AG Campbell joined a coalition supporting a Florida law prohibiting firearm purchases by individuals under 21.
The amicus brief was filed alongside attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.