Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme rejected three appeals from gun-rights advocates, leaving intact federal and state laws that place special restrictions on young adults.

The justices refused to question a federal law that prohibits licensed dealers from selling handguns to people under age 21. The court also let stand a Texas measure that bars people ages 18 to 20 from getting concealed-carry licenses unless they are current or honorably discharged members of the military. The National Rifle Association challenged both laws.

In a third case today, the high court refused to permit a suit over a U.S. law that bars dealers from selling a handgun to someone who lives in a different state.

The Supreme Court in recent years has been reluctant to re- enter the fray over gun rights. The court hasn’t considered a Second Amendment case since 2010, when it said people have a right to have a handgun in the home for self-defense purposes.

The cases are Lane v. Holder, 12-1401; National Rifle Association v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 13-137; and National Rifle Association v. McGraw, 13-390.

--Editors: Laurie Asseo, Jodi Schneider

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Patrick Oster at poster@bloomberg.net

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