HARRISBURG, PA (July 25, 2024) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced a victory in the Middle District of Pennsylvania in its federal Second Amendment lawsuit, Suarez v. Paris, in which multiple Pennsylvania laws requiring permits to open carry were declared unconstitutional. The court opinion, along with all other documents, can be found at FPCLegal.org.

“We are pleased that the Court enjoined some of Pennsylvania's unconstitutional carry restrictions,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. “Our legal team is carefully reviewing the Court's decision and will determine the best strategy to address the remaining issues in due course.”

FPC’s challenge made claims against five provisions from Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act of 1995. In its decision, the Court declared that the requirements for a License to Carry Firearms to open carry in a vehicle, as well as during a state of emergency were unconstitutional. It upheld the requirement for a license to conceal carry as well as the law prohibiting the plaintiffs (whose civil rights have been restored) from obtaining licenses. Additionally, the Court denied FPC’s challenge to the state law requiring a license to open and conceal carry in Philadelphia; however, the Court gave plaintiffs 20 days to file an amended complaint that would be transferred to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

This challenge was brought as part of FPC’s high-impact FPC Law strategic litigation program, which aims to eliminate disarmament regimes and restore the natural right to keep and bear arms.

FPC is joined in this case by three individual members and the Second Amendment Foundation. The plaintiffs are represented by Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube.