Second Amendment groups petition Supreme Court over firearm laws

The National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation have petitioned the Supreme Court to hear Beckwith v. Frey, a case challenging the constitutionality of Maine’s three-day waiting period for firearm purchases. The legal challenge follows a ruling by the First Circuit Court of Appeals that overturned a lower court decision which had favored the plaintiffs. The waiting period in Maine was enacted in 2024 following a mass shooting in Lewiston.

Separately, a memorandum from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel has declared that federal laws prohibiting handgun sales to adults aged 18 to 20 are unconstitutional. This determination follows recent Supreme Court precedents. While the memo marks a significant shift in federal policy, advocates note that implementation at local gun stores may take time. Some state officials, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, have indicated that state-level prohibitions on handgun sales to teenagers will remain in effect despite the federal finding.