The Supreme Court decided on Thursday, June 23, that people had the right to carry guns in public for self-defense. A New York law that demanded individuals “to demonstrate a particular need for carrying a gun in order to get a license to carry a gun in a concealed way in public” was overturned by this ruling. The high court reached this decision just weeks after a shooting in a Buffalo supermarket that claimed 10 lives.
Prior to the 6-3 decision, the lower courts upheld the New York legislation when it was contested by two individuals whose application for a concealed-carry permit was turned down. The New York law in place since 1913, was favorable among the public according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul who stated, “This decision isn’t just reckless. It’s reprehensible. It’s not what New Yorkers want”.
This ruling is concerning to many Americans following the Buffalo shooting as well as the school shooting in Uvalde Texas. But in addition, the ruling and the opinions written by the justices has left many questions unanswered.
Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, in his majority opinion, stated, “The government must affirmatively prove that its firearms regulation is part of the historical tradition that delimits the outer bounds of the right to keep and bear arms.” With this standard in place when determining the constitutionality of a gun safety, new regulation may be impossible.
This is a CIMA Law Group blog entry. CIMA Law Group is located in Arizona and specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations. If you live in Arizona and need legal assistance CIMA Law Group can help.
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