“[She] wishes to obtain a handgun and handgun ammunition for the primary purpose of self-defense for several reasons,” the lawsuit states. “She believes a handgun is the most suitable firearm for this purpose due to the ease of open-carry and ease of training and use, if necessary.”

The suit states that carrying a rifle, which Marshall could legally purchase from a licensed dealer, would prove impractical due to size and portability.

The lawsuit states that both Marshall and Hirschfeld would prefer to legally buy their pistols from a federally licensed dealer rather than a private Virginia resident because of a better selection of new merchandise and the assurance that no one has tampered with it.

The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits licensed dealers from selling handguns or ammunition for those weapons to persons younger than 21. The law also prohibits gun sales by a licensed dealer to people who are under indictment or convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year of incarceration.