Conceal and Carry — SCOTUS Finally Rules

Conceal and Carry --- SCOTUS Finally Rules

SCOTUS – New 2A Ruling – What It REALLY Means

(ConservativeInsider.org) – New York is one of six states that would only issue a concealed carry permit to someone if they demonstrated a clear reason why they needed to carry a firearm. Along with Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, California, and New Jersey, it has denied many people permits in the past for not being able to prove any threats worthy of them needing a gun. However, a new Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling just declared these laws unconstitutional.

Two Men Denied Licenses Head to the Supreme Court

The case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen was the first gun rights case to make it to SCOTUS in years. It centered around two men who applied for concealed carry permits in New York but were denied because they did not have “proper cause” under the state’s “may issue” law.

The two men, Robert Nash and Brandon Koch, then teamed up with the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) to challenge the law, noting it violated their Second Amendment right to bear arms. However, Kevin Bruen, the New York State Police superintendent, pushed back. The case eventually worked its way to SCOTUS.

No More “May Issue” States

On Thursday, June 23, SCOTUS released a 6-3 ruling striking down a New York law that made concealed carry license applicants show a decent enough reason for them to carry a firearm.

In the ruling, Justice Clarence Thomas clearly stated that “the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.” With these words, the court solidified that a state cannot force someone to prove they are physically threatened before being allowed to carry a firearm.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh penned a concurring opinion, highlighting that states can still make requirements for concealed carry permit holders and that the provided opinion only speaks to “the unusual discretionary licensing regimes.”

How This Affects States Across the Board

While this case specifically spoke to the New York law, the precedent set here will quickly be applied to other states with similar laws. The opinion emphasized that the right to bear arms must be equal to other constitutional rights. Thomas noted that there is “no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need.”

So, lawsuits will likely be put forth in the coming weeks challenging other states’ laws that restrict law-abiding Americans from carrying weapons typically used for self-defense.

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