On May 28, 2025, the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously upheld a state law prohibiting most individuals under the age of 21 from carrying handguns in public. The decision affirms the state’s authority to regulate firearm carry under the Georgia Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms, but allows the Georgia General Assembly to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Thomas Stephens, a 20-year-old who was denied a weapons carry license at age 18. Stephens argued that the age restriction violated his constitutional rights. However, the court rejected his challenge, noting that the law does not infringe upon the state constitutional right to bear arms, as it permits the legislature to regulate the manner of carrying firearms.
Under current Georgia law, individuals aged 18 to 20 may possess handguns on their own property, in their vehicles, at their places of business, or when engaged in hunting, fishing, or sport shooting. Those in this age group who have received military training are exempt from the public carry prohibition.
The court’s opinion, authored by Justice Andrew Pinson, emphasized that interpreting the Georgia Constitution requires attention to its specific language and historical context, rather than applying federal standards like “strict scrutiny” or “history and tradition.” The ruling maintains the state’s current age-based restrictions on public handgun carry
A couple of things must be pointed out:
First, it is unclear to what extent the litigant in this case also argued that the prohibition violated the 2nd Amendment. If and when the United States Supreme Court were to decide that such a prohibition violates the 2nd Amendment, the State of Georgia will have no choice but to abide by such a decision.
Also: Note that the Court reasoned that because, under that state’s Constitution, the Georgia General Assembly has the authority to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne, the Georgia legislature is free to prohibit those under 21 from carrying.
This illustrates the degree to which so many courts across the country are willing to give expansive interpretations whenever it means that a restriction on the right to keep and bear arms is to be upheld.
The Massachusetts under-21 prohibition applies to all handgun possession, not just carrying. It has always struck me as perplexing, at best, that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts allows 16-year-olds to drive multi-thousand pound hunks of steel down Route 128 at rush hour, in contrast.
A piece on this dubious decision can be found here:
MA GUN LAWYER 
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