Georgia Supreme Court upholds ban on those under 21 from carrying handguns in public

The Georgia Supreme Court upheld a law banning most individuals under 21 from carrying handguns in public. This decision followed a lawsuit from Thomas Stephens, a 20-year-old who claimed the law infringed on his constitutional rights after being denied a weapons carry license. The court emphasized that while Georgia's Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, it permits the General Assembly to regulate how they are carried. The ruling comes amid heated discussions about gun control in the state, particularly after a mass shooting at Apalachee High School last September. Stephens' attorney expressed disappointment but recognized the challenges in overturning the law, citing over a century of precedent against them.

The ruling underscores Georgia's historically permissive gun laws, which have faced scrutiny in light of recent violent incidents.