(Tampa Free Press)—The Liberty Justice Center filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Minnesota’s refusal to recognize firearm permits from other states, a policy the nonprofit argues violates the Second Amendment rights of interstate truck drivers.
The lawsuit, McCoy v. Jacobson, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on behalf of two truckers, David McCoy and Jeffrey Johnson, who claim the law infringes on their constitutional right to bear arms while working across state borders.
David McCoy, a Texas-based trucker, and Jeffrey Johnson, who holds firearm permits from Florida and Georgia, both legally carry firearms for self-defense in many states. However, Minnesota law prohibits them from carrying firearms in public or in their trucks without a Minnesota-issued permit or one recognized by the state.
Minnesota currently excludes permits from 29 states, including Texas, Georgia, and Florida, leaving McCoy and Johnson unable to legally defend themselves while in the state.
“For truckers like me, who spend weeks living in our rigs and traveling across the country, self-defense isn’t optional—it’s a necessity,” McCoy said. “Minnesota’s law forces me to choose between my safety and my livelihood.”
The lawsuit argues that Minnesota’s permit restrictions impose an undue burden on nonresident truckers who regularly cross state lines for work, effectively denying them the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
The Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit known for its landmark victory in Janus v. AFSCME at the U.S. Supreme Court, is representing McCoy and Johnson. The lawsuit asks the court to declare Minnesota’s firearm permit law unconstitutional and compel the state to honor permits issued by all other states.
“There is no other constitutional right that individuals lose simply by crossing state lines,” said Loren Seehase, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center. “You don’t lose your right to free speech or freedom of religion when you drive from Texas to Minnesota—why should the right to self-defense be any different? We’re asking the court to uphold the Constitution and ensure that Mr. McCoy, Mr. Johnson, and others like them can defend themselves wherever their work takes them.”
The case highlights the challenges faced by individuals with lawfully issued firearm permits as they navigate a patchwork of state laws while traveling for work or leisure. Truckers, who often live in their vehicles and drive through multiple states, are particularly affected by the lack of reciprocity agreements.
Supporters of the lawsuit argue that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms without state-imposed barriers. Opponents, however, may argue that states have the right to enforce their own firearm regulations to address public safety concerns.
If successful, the lawsuit could have significant implications for firearm laws nationwide, potentially establishing a precedent requiring states to honor out-of-state firearm permits. The case also underscores ongoing tensions between state sovereignty and constitutional rights, particularly as they relate to gun control.
The court’s ruling in McCoy v. Jacobson could reshape how states approach firearm permit reciprocity and the rights of nonresident permit holders. As the legal battle unfolds, the case is expected to draw national attention from advocates on both sides of the gun rights debate.