Gun Laws And 2a
Texas Court Upholds Law Allowing 18- to 20-Year-Olds to Carry Handguns
Appellate ruling affirms expanded carry rights for young adults under state constitutional protections
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Dallas, TX
On August 18, 2025, the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision striking down the states previous ban on licensed handgun carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, affirming that the restriction violated both the Second Amendment and Texas own constitutional protections. The ruling cements a growing trend across several states where young adults are being granted broader firearm rights in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision. The case originated in 2023, when two young adults supported by the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed suit against the Texas Department of Public Safety. They argued that prohibiting lawful adults under 21 from obtaining a license to carry was inconsistent with both historical tradition and the constitutional standard laid out in Bruen. In 2024, a federal district court ruled in their favor, but the state appealed, setting up this years pivotal appellate decision. Writing for the majority, Judge Ellen Montoya stressed that Texas law has long recognized 18-year-olds as legal adults with full civic responsibilities, including the right to vote and serve in the military. She pointed out that denying them the ability to carry a handgun for self-defense, while simultaneously entrusting them with military firearms in service to the state, was an untenable contradiction. The court further emphasized that the state had failed to present compelling historical evidence that age-based restrictions on carry were consistent with the Second Amendments original meaning. Gun rights advocates hailed the ruling as a major victory. Cody J. Wisniewski, senior attorney for the FPC, declared, 'This decision affirms that the rights of young adults are no less worthy of protection than those of any other American citizen. Texas has once again proven itself to be at the forefront of defending the Second Amendment.' Several other advocacy groups echoed that sentiment, noting that similar challenges are underway in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Not everyone welcomed the outcome. Gun control advocates, including the group Everytown for Gun Safety, criticized the ruling as dangerous. In a statement, the organization argued that extending concealed carry rights to 18-year-olds increases risks of gun violence and accidents, particularly on college campuses and in urban areas. They called on the Texas legislature to explore other regulatory pathways to limit firearm access among young adults. Texas officials signaled that they will not attempt to further appeal the ruling to the state supreme court, citing the clear alignment with federal precedent after Bruen. As a result, the practical effect is that Texans between 18 and 20 can now lawfully obtain carry licenses and exercise their right to carry handguns in public, subject to the states existing training and background check requirements. The broader implications of the decision are significant. By affirming that age-based restrictions are not historically grounded, the Texas court has effectively opened the door for similar challenges nationwide. Already, federal lawsuits are targeting the minimum age for firearm purchases under the Gun Control Act of 1968, which restricts handgun sales by federally licensed dealers to those 21 and older. Legal scholars predict a wave of litigation that could redefine the boundaries of firearm access for young adults across the country.