WASHINGTON, DC (June 25, 2021) — Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a supporting brief in the Second Amendment lawsuit George K. Young v. State of Hawaii, et al., which challenges Hawaii’s laws and policies that prevent law-abiding people from exercising their right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The brief can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

FPC’s brief, joined by Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF), argues that the Court should grant Young’s petition in order to resolve the split between the federal courts regarding the standard of review used when analyzing Second Amendment challenges, noting that while “[m]ost Circuits have adopted a two-level standard of review, with a higher standard applicable to cases involving the ‘core right’ of the Second Amendment,” the Court should instead impose a standard “that focuses on the Second Amendment’s text as informed by history and tradition.”

Additionally, the brief argues that the Court should take up this case because “[t]he Ninth Circuit has been especially hostile to the Second Amendment” and “unless this Court reinforces its precedents, it will continue to treat the Second Amendment as a second-class right.” Indeed, FPC’s brief concludes, “[t]he Circuits interpreting the Second and Fourteenth Amendment right to arms have divided in at least four different and significant ways. But only a test based on the Second Amendment’s text, informed by history and tradition, is consistent with Heller and McDonald. This Court should resolve these differences.”

“The Ninth Circuit’s flawed decision in Young is in direct conflict with the Second Amendment’s original public meaning and our Founders’ intent when they ratified the Bill of Rights,” said FPC’s Director of Constitutional Studies, Joseph Greenlee. “The Second Amendment’s text, as well as the practice and tradition throughout our nation’s history, make clear that the right to bear arms means what it says—that the people have a right to carry loaded, operable firearms outside the home. We are hopeful the Supreme Court will right this wrong and unequivocally restore the rights secured by the Second Amendment.”

Individuals who would like to support FPC’s important legal and advocacy programs can become a member of the FPC Grassroots Army for just $25 at JoinFPC.org. Firearms Policy Coalition and its FPC Law team are the nation’s next-generation advocates leading the Second Amendment litigation and research space. Some FPC legal actions include:

• A challenge to California’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” (Miller v. Bonta) that resulted in a post-trial judgment and permanent injunction against the challenged regulations, the first such victory in United States history
• A challenge to California’s handgun “roster”, microstamping, and self-manufacturing ban laws (Renna v. Bonta)
• A challenge to California’s firearm purchase rationing ban (1-in-30 day limit) (Nguyen v. Bonta)
• A brief supporting certiorari in NYSRPA v. Bruen, which was granted by the U.S. Supreme Court
• A challenge to Minnesota’s ban on handgun carry by adults under 21 (Worth v. Harrington)
• A challenge to Illinois’ ban on handgun carry by adults under 21 (Meyer v. Raoul)
• A challenge to Georgia's ban on handgun carry by adults under 21 (Baughcum v. Jackson)
• A challenge to Tennessee’s ban on handgun carry by adults under 21 (Basset v. Slatery)
• A challenge to Maryland’s ban on handgun carry (Call v. Jones) 
• A challenge to New Jersey’s ban on handgun carry (Bennett v. Davis)
• A challenge to New York City’s ban on handgun carry (Greco v. New York City)
• A challenge to Pennsylvania’s ban on handgun carry by adults under 21 (Lara v. Evanchick)
• A challenge to the federal ban on the sale of handguns and handgun ammunition to adults under 21 years of age (Reese v. ATF)
• A challenge to Maryland’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” (Bianchi v. Frosh)

For more on these cases and other legal action initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. FPC Law (FPCLaw.org), the nation’s largest public interest legal team focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, lead the Second Amendment litigation and research space.