U.S. Supreme Court strikes down New York concealed carry restrictions

The following article by Steve MacDonald has been republished with permission from GraniteGrok.

Proper cause to carry concealed is a common requirement of state or local jurisdictions if you need to apply for permission to exercise that right, but the U.S. Supreme Court just declared it unconstitutional.

The case is New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.

As Judge Clarence Thomas wrote:

“New York’s proper-cause requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms in public for self-defense.”

“… It is undisputed that petitioners Koch and Nash—two ordinary, law-abiding, adult citizens—are part of ‘the people’ whom the Second Amendment protects.”

“… And no party disputes that handguns are weapons ‘in common use’ today for self-defense.”

“… The Court has little difficulty concluding also that the plain text of the Second Amendment protects Koch’s and Nash’s proposed course of conduct — carrying handguns publicly for self-defense. Nothing in the Second Amendment’s text draws a home/public distinction with respect to the right to keep and bear arms, and the definition of ‘bear’ naturally encompasses public carry. Moreover, the Second Amendment guarantees an “individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation’… and confrontation can surely take place outside the home.”

Prior to this decision, as the Post Millennial reported, “The only way for New Yorkers to obtain an unrestricted permit was to prove that they had “proper cause” to do so. A person had to “demonstrate a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community.”

The Court states:

“The constitutional right to bear arms in public for self-defense is not ‘a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees.’”

“…The exercise of other constitutional rights does not require individuals to demonstrate to government officers some special need. The Second Amendment right to carry arms in public for selfdefense is no different. New York’s proper-cause requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms in public.”

It is a big win for liberty, so we should expect a fresh round of narratives about court-packing, especially with Dobbs v Jackson still waiting to see the final draft light of day.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Ratha Grimes

8 thoughts on “U.S. Supreme Court strikes down New York concealed carry restrictions

  1. The underlying statement in this decision ” Law Abiding Citizens ” is to protect yourself
    by the means of ” Self Defense ” from crooks & crazies such as a “non-law-abiding”
    persons………………….

    For all the Constitution, Gun, and Police haters, next time call a social worker they’ll help
    you with your issue, don’t call a good guy or gal with a gun they’ll be busy caring for there
    family members !!

  2. The decision was a victory, no doubt. However, they still have to apply and go thru a licensing process that can and will be manipulated to try to slow down the number of citizens allowed to carry. Constitutional Carry should be the law of the land. It is the right that the 2nd Amendment enumerates. We do not need government permission to exercise a right.

    “You cannot arm slaves and expect them to remain slaves, nor can you disarm free men and expect them to remain free”. – Donald L. Cline

  3. If you listen carefully today, all over America, you may think you hear gunfire but then you realize that it is just the sound of liberal heads exploding.
    6-3 decision…well reasoned…about time.

  4. The juxtaposition of the SCOTUS decision with congresses in the act of further infringement of that which”Shall Not Be Infringed”. The Marxist’s must infringe to accomplish their goal of complete control and repeal the 2 nd. amendment,a disarmed civilian population.

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