Teen in foster care fights for right to own gun

OGDEN, Utah (AP) - An 18-year-old in foster care is planning to appeal after a juvenile court judge once again ruled he can’t own a firearm.

James Edwards is fighting to get the court to overrule a decision made by Utah Child and Family Services, his legal guardian.

The Standard-Examiner in Ogden reports (https://bit.ly/1mmukVj ) that Edward’s attorney Adam Hensley argues that Utah’s “best interest of the child” standard does not supersede his client’s constitutional right to own a gun.

Judge Sharon Sipes said in her Dec. 10 ruling that the court can’t supersede decisions made by the state in this case.

Utah Child and Family Services spokeswoman Ashley Sumner says the agency puts safety first and assesses mental health, developmental capacity and the child’s history in making these decisions.

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Information from: Standard-Examiner, https://www.standard.net