The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled on October 20, 2026, that the state's age restrictions on firearm licenses are constitutional. This decision affects young adults under 21 who wish to own firearms, affirming that the law aligns with historical regulations on firearm possession.
The case, Commonwealth v. Thomson (SJC 13856), arose from an incident in December 2021 when Mikai Thomson, then 20, was charged with carrying a firearm without a license. The court's ruling is significant as it clarifies the legal landscape surrounding gun ownership for younger individuals in Massachusetts.
Background
Mikai Thomson was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by police for running a red light. During the stop, officers found a lit marijuana blunt and a significant amount of marijuana in the car. When asked if he had a weapon, Thomson did not respond and later fled, discarding a loaded handgun during his escape. He was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, as he had neither applied for nor possessed a firearm license, which is prohibited for individuals under 21 in Massachusetts.
The case was initially tried in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, where Thomson was convicted. He appealed the decision, arguing that the age restriction on firearm licenses violated his Second Amendment rights. The Supreme Judicial Court took the case directly from the Appeals Court, indicating its importance.
The Ruling
The court ruled that the licensing age restriction does not violate the Second Amendment. The opinion stated, "Because restriction of firearm possession by those deemed too young to handle them safely outside of supervised settings is consistent with the nation's regulatory tradition, we affirm." The judges involved in the ruling included Chief Justice Budd and Justices Gaziano, Kafker, Wendlandt, Georges, Dewar, and Wolohojian.
The court emphasized that Thomson did not have standing to challenge the law as applied to him because he had never applied for a license. The opinion noted, "We have long held that standing to bring an as-applied challenge to the Commonwealth's firearm licensing scheme requires having applied for (and been denied) a license." This procedural point was crucial in the court's decision.
Impact
This ruling reinforces the existing age restrictions on firearm licenses in Massachusetts, which prohibit individuals under 21 from obtaining a license to carry. The decision aligns with historical precedents that allow states to regulate firearm possession, particularly among younger individuals. It affirms the state's authority to impose age restrictions as part of its public safety measures.
Going forward, this ruling may discourage similar challenges to age restrictions on firearm licenses in Massachusetts and potentially in other jurisdictions. It also highlights the importance of adhering to procedural requirements in legal challenges, as Thomson's failure to apply for a license limited his ability to contest the law's constitutionality.
What's Next
While the ruling is final in this case, it may set the stage for future discussions on firearm regulations, particularly concerning age restrictions. There is currently no indication that the case will be appealed further, but similar cases could arise as young adults continue to navigate the complexities of firearm ownership laws.