Case closed: we won. The US Supreme Court refused to take up the State’s appeal on Monday, April 21, 2025, ending this litigation with a victory for the Second Amendment rights of young adults in Minnesota. 18- to 20-year-olds can apply for and receive a Minnesota Permit to Carry from their county sheriff.
Case summary
In this case, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, along with three individual plaintiffs, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Firearms Policy Coalition, sued the State of Minnesota and three county sheriffs to restore the right of adults under 21 years of age to carry loaded, operable arms in public for self-defense and other lawful purposes.
On March 31, 2023, we prevailed when US District Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, struck down Minnesota’s limits on 18- to 20-year-olds obtaining permits. The judgment was issued with immediate effect. Later that day, the State filed an emergency request for a stay of the ruling to consider an appeal and “implement systems” that would allow it to issue permits.
The State of Minnesota filed its notice of appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on May 17, 2023. The appeal was argued on February 13, 2024, before Judges Smith, Benton, and Stras.
On July 16, 2024, the Eighth Circuit ruled 3-0 in our favor and permanently enjoined the State of Minnesota from enforcing the 21-year-old age limit. On July 30, 2024, the State asked for an en banc (whole court) rehearing; on August 21, 2024, the Eighth Circuit denied it, and on September 20, 2024, it issued the mandate, ending the case at the Eighth Circuit.
Attorney General Keith Ellison then asked the US Supreme Court for a 59-day extension of the appeal deadline, which Justice Kavanaugh granted. The State petitioned the Supreme Court on January 17, 2025. We filed our reply on March 10, 2025, and the State filed its reply brief on March 24, 2025. The case was distributed for the April 17, 2025 conference, and on April 21, 2025, the Court refused to take it.
Original case title
This case was initially titled “Worth v. Harrington.” It was retitled “Worth v. Jacobson” after Bob Jacobson replaced John Harrington as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I read the rulings?
You can read the 50-plus-page district court ruling and the Eighth Circuit ruling. Every filing in the case is listed in the timeline below.
When did the ruling take effect?
On Monday, April 21, 2025, when the US Supreme Court refused to take up the State’s appeal.
What does enjoin mean?
It means the State cannot enforce the law in question, in this case the age requirement in Minn. Stat. § 624.714, the Permit to Carry law.
Can 18- to 20-year-olds apply for a Permit to Carry today?
Yes. The decision took effect on Monday, April 21, 2025. See Permit to Carry.
Does this affect any other laws?
Not directly. This lawsuit was explicitly about this law, but it does allow us to point to this ruling in other cases and in policy debates at the Legislature.
Can an 18- to 20-year-old buy a handgun or ammunition from a dealer?
Federal law prohibits licensed dealers from selling a handgun or handgun ammunition to anyone under 21. In Reese v. ATF, decided January 30, 2025, the Fifth Circuit held that the federal provisions barring licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds (18 U.S.C. §§ 922(b)(1) and (c)(1)) and their regulations are inconsistent with the Second Amendment, and sent the case back to the district court. That case came from Louisiana; Minnesota is in the Eighth Circuit. Our partners the Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation are plaintiffs in Reese.
An 18- to 20-year-old adult can buy a handgun in a private sale or receive it as a bona fide gift. Any private transfer must follow Minnesota’s universal background check law. See how 18- to 20-year-olds can buy a handgun.
Is it legal for an 18- to 20-year-old to possess a handgun in Minnesota?
There is no prohibition on an 18- to 20-year-old adult possessing a handgun or ammunition in Minnesota. They just can’t buy one from a dealer. They may buy a handgun in a private sale or receive one as a bona fide gift.
Will this change reciprocity?
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has generally taken a very strict view of “similar” when comparing Minnesota’s Permit to Carry law to other states. One of the reasons it has refused to honor several states is that they issued permits to 18- to 20-year-old adults.
DPS updated the reciprocity list on Friday, May 2, 2025. See also Permit to Carry reciprocity.
Will the State appeal?
With the denial of cert by the US Supreme Court, the State cannot appeal this case any further.
Case details
- Case title: Kristin Worth, Austin Dye, Axel Anderson, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Second Amendment Foundation, & Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. v. Bob Jacobson, Kyle Burton, Troy Wolbersen, & Dan Starry
- When this case was filed, John Harrington was the Commissioner of DPS and Don Lorge was the Sheriff of Mille Lacs County. Bob Jacobson was sworn in as the Commissioner of DPS on January 3, 2023, and Kyle Burton is now the Mille Lacs County Sheriff. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Burton are automatically substituted as parties.
- District court: United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, Judge Katherine M. Menendez
- District court case #: 0:21-CV-01348 (docket)
- Appellate court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (Judges Smith, Benton, and Stras)
- Eighth Circuit case #: 23-2248 (docket)
- US Supreme Court case #: 24-782, Jacobson v. Worth (docket)
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus timeline and actions
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is a plaintiff in this case. Court filings are listed by date.
- June 7, 2021: Complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
- Press releases: MN Gun Owners Caucus, Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation
- June 25, 2021: Response filed by the 3 County Sheriffs to the initial complaint
- August 13, 2021: Response filed by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
- August 23, 2021: Scheduling Order
- September 2021: Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting
- September 23, 2021:
- October 15, 2021: Scheduling Order
- August 4, 2022:
- Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment
- Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Summary Judgement
- Exhibit Index
- Exhibit A – MN Uniform Firearm Application Permit to Carry a Pistol
- Exhibit B – Declaration of Kristin Worth
- Exhibit C – Declaration of Austin Dye
- Exhibit D – Declaration of Axel Anderson
- Exhibit E – Declaration of Bryan Strawser
- Exhibit F – Declaration of Alan Gottlieb
- Exhibit G – Declaration of Brandon Combs
- Exhibit H – Transcript of Deposition of Dr. Saul Cornell
- Plaintiff’s Notice of Hearing
- Defendant John Harrington – Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
- Defendant “Sheriffs” – Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
- Giffords Law Center – Motion to enter as Amicus
- Giffords Law Center – Memorandum of Law in Support of Amicus Brief
- Giffords Law Center – Proposed Amicus Brief
- August 25, 2022:
- September 8, 2022:
- March 2023
- March 31, 2023: victory at district court
- March 31, 2023: emergency motion by the Minnesota Attorney General to stay summary judgment
- April 3, 2023
- April 5, 2023
- April 24, 2023
- May 17, 2023
- May 22, 2023
- 8th Circuit sets briefing schedule as follows:
- State to file their briefing by July 11, 2023
- Plaintiffs to file their response by August 11, 2023
- 8th Circuit sets briefing schedule as follows:
- July 14, 2023
- The State of Minnesota has filed their appellate brief with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- August 18, 2023
- Plaintiff’s appellate brief
- September 6, 2023
- Defendant’s appellate reply brief
- February 13, 2024
- Oral arguments were held
- July 16, 2024
- July 30, 2024
- August 21, 2024
- September 20, 2024
- October 2024
- The State asked the US Supreme Court for a 59-day extension of the deadline to file its petition (application 24A421, filed October 23). Justice Kavanaugh granted it on October 31, giving the State until January 17, 2025.
- January 17, 2025
- The State of Minnesota petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear this case on appeal.
- March 10, 2025
- MN Gun Owners Caucus, FPC, and 2nd Amendment Foundation filed our reply brief with the US Supreme Court in which we encourage them to take the case but disagree with the State’s position. We believe that 18- to 20-year-olds are being denied their right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.
- March 24, 2025
- The State of Minnesota filed its reply brief with the US Supreme Court. The petition was then fully briefed.
- April 17, 2025
- The case was distributed for consideration at the April 17, 2025 conference.
- April 21, 2025
- The US Supreme Court denied the State’s petition, ending the case. 18- to 20-year-olds can apply for and receive a Minnesota Permit to Carry from their county sheriff as of that day (our press release).
- April 27, 2025
- Letter from the MN Gun Owners Caucus to DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson demanding the state update their reciprocity agreements following the Worth decision.
News coverage
- June 8, 2021: Bearing Arms – 2A groups launch legal challenge to Minnesota carry laws
- June 9, 2021: Star Tribune – Three young adults, gun groups sue over Minnesota’s 21 age requirement for gun carry permits
- June 9, 2021: Associated Press – Young adults sue for right to carry guns in Minnesota
- June 9, 2021: KARE-11 – Three young adults sue for right to carry guns in Minnesota
- June 9, 2021: WCCO – 3 young adults file federal lawsuit, sue for right to carry guns in Minnesota
- June 15, 2021: Bemidji Pioneer – 18-year-old sues central Minnesota sheriff as part of a challenge to state’s gun laws
- June 30, 2021: Mille Lacs Messenger – Milaca woman sues over right to carry a handgun
- September 4, 2022: Star Tribune – National groups intervene in federal suit over Minnesota’s age limit for carrying handguns
- March 31, 2023: Courthouse News Service – Judge finds Minnesota age limit on gun carry permits unconstitutional
- March 31, 2023: Bearing Arms – Federal judge rules Minnesota’s under-21 carry ban unconstitutional
- March 31, 2023: Reuters – Minnesota’s 21-year age minimum for handgun carry permits struck down
- March 31, 2023: Ammoland – Judge says law restricting carry permits for 18-20 year olds unconstitutional
- March 31, 2023: Second Amendment Foundation – SAF Victory in Minnesota as Judge Allows CCW for Young Adults
- March 31, 2023: Fox 9 – Judge rules Minnesota’s age requirement for pistol permits violates 2nd Amendment
- March 31, 2023: KSTP – Federal judge strikes down Minnesota’s age requirement for gun permits
- March 31, 2023: KARE-11 – Judge overturns Minnesota’s age restriction on gun carry permits
- March 31, 2023: WCCO – Judge strikes down Minnesota ban on permit to carry law for applicants under 21
- April 2, 2023: Star Tribune – Federal judge rules Minnesota’s age limit for carrying handguns unconstitutional
- July 16, 2024: Reuters – Minnesota cannot bar adults under 21 from carrying guns, court rules
- July 16, 2024: Star Tribune – Federal appeals court agrees that Minnesota age limit on carrying handguns in public is unconstitutional
- July 16, 2024: Associated Press – Minnesota’s ban on gun carry permits for young adults is unconstitutional, appeals court rules
- July 16, 2024: Pioneer Press – Minnesota’s minimum age of 21 to carry guns unconstitutional, appeals court rules
- July 16, 2024: KSTP – Federal appeals court affirms that Minnesota’s age limit on permit to carry is unconstitutional
- July 16, 2024: Fox9 – Minnesota’s gun-carrying age restriction ruled on by federal court
- July 16, 2024: Rochester Post-Bulletin – Federal appeals court strikes down Minnesota age restriction on conceal carry
- July 16, 2024: KARE-11 – Minnesota’s ban on gun carry permits for young adults is unconstitutional, appeals court rules
- July 17, 2024: Washington Post – Minnesota’s age restriction to carry handguns is unconstitutional, court rules
- July 17, 2024: WCCO Radio – Court of Appeals declares Minnesota ban on young adult conceal-carry unconstitutional
- April 21, 2025: AP – The Supreme Court won’t revive a Minnesota ban on gun-carry permits for young adults
- April 21, 2025: NBC News – Supreme Court rejects Minnesota effort to revive ban on young adults from carrying guns
- April 21, 2025: Reuters – US Supreme Court won’t save Minnesota age restriction on carrying guns
- April 21, 2025: Breitbart – SCOTUS refuses to take up Minnesota’s appeal – means ban on concealed carry permits for 18-20 year olds struck down
- April 21, 2025: WCCO Radio – The Supreme Court won’t revive a Minnesota ban on gun-carry permits for young adults
- April 21, 2025: The Trace – Supreme Court won’t take up age restrictions for guns – for now
Counsel of record
The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus is represented in this case by Blair W. Nelson of Blair W. Nelson, Ltd. in Bemidji and David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, and William V. Bergstrom of Cooper and Kirk PLLC in Washington, DC.
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Our lawsuits and amicus briefs are underwritten by the Minnesota Gun Owners Support Fund, doing business as the MN Gun Owners Law Center, a 501(c)(3). Gifts may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.