WASHINGTON, D.C. — Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have joined 23 other states in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging it to strike down Massachusetts’s firearm licensing requirements for nonresidents.
The coalition argues that the state’s rules violate the Second Amendment by placing unconstitutional burdens on law-abiding travelers carrying legally owned firearms.
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“Tennesseans’ Second Amendment rights don’t just disappear when they visit Massachusetts,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.
The Case at the Center
The legal challenge stems from a New Hampshire resident’s arrest in Massachusetts after he voluntarily informed police he was carrying a legally owned firearm but lacked a Massachusetts license.
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A trial court initially dismissed the charges,
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But the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reinstated them, upholding the state’s strict licensing regime.
Key Arguments from the 25-State Coalition
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Unconstitutional Burden – Massachusetts’ lengthy delays, high fees, and wide discretion in granting licenses violate travelers’ rights.
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No Historical Precedent – The brief argues there’s no tradition of barring nonresidents from transporting or possessing firearms while traveling.
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Equal Rights Across States – Constitutional rights under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments shouldn’t change based on geography.
The coalition is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review and overturn Massachusetts’ high court decision.
Attorney General Skrmetti emphasized that constitutional protections follow Americans wherever they go:
“Your rights don’t stop at state lines.”
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