Second Amendment Foundation March Updates

Victory in SAF-Funded Case Challenging Illinois FOID Mandate

A Circuit Court judge in Illinois has struck down the state’s requirement to have a Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card to possess a firearm in the home for personal protection in a case supported by the Second Amendment Foundation and Illinois State Rifle Association. The case is known as State of Illinois v. Vivian Claudine Brown.

In his 15-page decision, White County Resident Circuit Judge T. Scott Webb observed, “The Defendant’s possession of a .22 caliber rifle within the confines of her home, even without a valid FOID card falls squarely within the protections afforded her by the Second Amendment.

“If an intruder had entered Ms. Brown’s home,” Judge Webb added, “and threatened violence towards her and, God forbid, she was forced to use that .22 rifle to defend herself, she would have committed a class A misdemeanor carrying with it a possible penalty of up to 364 days in the county jail. She could claim self-defense, but that does not change the fact that she possessed a firearm without a valid FOID Card. Such an outcome is asinine especially in this great nation that so cherishes the right to be secure and defend oneself within the home.”

SAF Sues Massachusetts Over Gun Ban for 18-20-Year-Olds

The Second Amendment Foundation has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a Massachusetts statute which bans young adults in the 18-to-20 age group from acquiring, possessing, or carrying any semiautomatic firearm of any type or any handgun. The case is known as Escher v. Noble.

Joining SAF are the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners Action League, Commonwealth Second Amendment, Firearms Policy Coalition and a private citizen, Mack Escher, for whom the case is named. The plaintiffs are challenging provisions of Massachusetts law enacted with passage of H.B. 4885, signed in July 2024 by Gov. Maura Healey.

SAF Files Response Brief with SCOTUS in Minnesota Carry Case

Attorneys representing the Second Amendment Foundation and its partners in a case challenging the State of Minnesota’s prohibition on licensed concealed carry by young adults ages 18-20 have filed a response brief with the U.S. Supreme Court encouraging the justices to “grant plenary review and set the case for argument.”

The case is known as Jacobson v. Worth, originally filed in June 2021 as Worth v. Harrington. SAF is joined by the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Firearms Policy Coalition, and three private citizens, Kristin Worth, for whom the case is named, Austin Dye, and Axel Anderson. While all three have turned 21, the Eighth Circuit Court granted a motion to supplement the record and allow another individual, Joe Knudsen, to carry the complaint. SAF won this case at trial and at the appeals court level and Minnesota is appealing the ruling.

In a press release distributed to media, SAF Executive Director said: “Today’s filing is unique in that we are agreeing with Minnesota’s request in asking the Supreme Court to hear our case to resolve a dispute between the circuits. The lower courts are not unanimous in their approach to the Second Amendment rights of 18-20-year-olds. It is important that the Court weigh in to confirm that 18-20-year-olds are part of ‘the People’ and the Second Amendment applies in full to those individuals. The ban Minnesota seeks to uphold eviscerates the right of those adults to be able to carry a firearm for self-defense. This is patently unconstitutional and while we prevailed at the court of appeals, the Supreme Court needs to ensure all the lower courts reach the proper result. By taking this case, they can do just that.”

Should you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with SAF Senior Vice President/Vice President of Development Lauren Hill at lhill@saf.org. If you would like more detailed information on any of SAF’s more than 55 active cases, visit saf.org where all current cases are listed under the Legal Action section.