By enacting HB. 4885, Massachusetts has categorically prevented Young Adults aged 18-20 years old from acquiring handguns or any semiautomatic whatsoever, and from carrying a handgun in public for self-defense. In doing so, the Massachusetts legislature has completely extinguished the Second Amendment rights of these Young Adults, in clear contravention of the demands of the Constitution and the interpretations thereof found in Heller and Bruen.
On February 14, 2025, SAF joined by its partner organizations and individual plaintiffs filed suit in the Federal District of Massachusetts alleging that HB. 4885 violated the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. SAF is represented by Cooper & Kirk attorneys David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and William V. Bergstrom, as well as Jason Guida. Named as defendants are Col. Geoffrey Noble, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, and Heath J. Eldredge, chief of police in Brewster, Mass., in their official capacities.
Case Team: David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson and William V. Bergstrom, Jason Guida
Recent Docket Activity
April 8th, 2026
Electronic Clerk's Notes for proceedings held before Judge George A. OToole, Jr: Motion Hearing held on 4/8/2026 re 53 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Heath Eldredge, 39 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Jaime Gagnon, Geoffrey Noble, 43 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Mark Escher, Second Amendment Foundation, Inc., National Rifle Association of America, Inc, Gun Owners Action League, Inc, Commonwealth Second Amendment, Inc., Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc, Gun Owners of America. Court hears argument from the parties; Court takes the matter under advisement. Modified on 4/14/2026 .
March 2nd, 2026
ELECTRONIC NOTICE Setting Hearing on Motion 53 MOTION for Summary Judgment, 39 MOTION for Summary Judgment, 43 MOTION for Summary Judgment : Motion Hearing set for 4/8/2026 02:00 PM in Courtroom 22 before Judge George A. O'Toole Jr..
January 23rd, 2026
REPLY to Response to 53 MOTION for Summary Judgment, 39 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Heath Eldredge, Jaime Gagnon, Geoffrey Noble.
January 23rd, 2026
REPLY to Response to 43 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Commonwealth Second Amendment, Inc., Mark Escher, Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc, Gun Owners Action League, Inc, Gun Owners of America, National Rifle Association of America, Inc, Second Amendment Foundation, Inc..
January 5th, 2026
Judge George A. OToole, Jr: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. As a matter of routine practice, this Court does not accept amicus briefs in regular civil practice. The parties are fully capable of arguing their respective positions. The motion for leave to file an amicus brief is DENIED. See generally Dietz v. Bouldin, 579 U.S. 40, 4749 .
