The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that placed limits on carrying concealed guns outside the home, saying it violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution. The vote was 6 to 3, with the court’s three liberal members in dissent.
The New York law required that people seeking a license to carry a concealed handgun outside their homes show a "proper cause." Two New York men who were denied gun licenses sued, saying that "the state makes it virtually impossible for the ordinary law-abiding citizen to obtain a license."
In the majority opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the New York law prevents "citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms in public."
In his dissent, Breyer wrote, "In 2020, 45,222 Americans were killed by firearms," adding, "Many states have tried to address some of the dangers of gun violence...The Court today severely burdens States' efforts to do so."
References
- Syllabus in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Policesupremecourt.gov
Full ruling
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