PHILADELPHIA — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that the Federal Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has reaffirmed its prior opinion in FPC’s Lara v. Evanchick lawsuit, again striking down Pennsylvania’s laws preventing 18-to-20-year-old adults from openly carrying a loaded firearm outside of the home during a declared state of emergency. The opinion can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/lara.

“We conclude that our prior analysis reflects the approach taken in Bruen and clarified in Rahimi,” wrote Judge Kent A. Jordan, author of the majority opinion. “We did indeed consider ‘whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition[,]’ not whether a ‘historical twin’ of the regulation exists. Having determined that Rahimi sustains our prior analysis, we will again reverse and remand the District Court’s judgment.”

“The Third Circuit’s decision is an important development in our ongoing efforts to eliminate age-based gun bans nationwide. And while we are delighted with the outcome here, we are already back at work in this and dozens of other cases. There has never been a more important time to fight forward and work towards total mission achievement,” said FPC President Brandon Combs.

After the Third Circuit struck down the ban last year, Pennsylvania asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision. In October, the high court vacated and remanded the case to be reheard in light of its United States v. Rahimi opinion. The Third Circuit’s latest decision follows that remand. Pennsylvania is once again expected to appeal this decision.

The Lara case is part of FPC’s high-impact strategic litigation program, FPC Law, aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty. FPC is joined in the litigation by three FPC members as well as the Second Amendment Foundation. FPC thanks FPC Action Foundation for its strategic support of this FPC Law case.

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, and YouTube.