BREAKING: Supreme Court Strikes Down NY Concealed Carry Law, Making It Easier To Carry Handguns In Public

In a 6-3 ruling on the case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of lawfully armed citizens by striking down state requirements to show “proper cause” when seeking a concealed carry permit in New York.

“In this case, petitioners and respondents agree that ordinary, law-abiding citizens have a similar right to carry handguns publicly for their self-defense. We too agree, and now hold, consistent with Heller and McDonald, that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the Court’s opinion. “Because the State of New York issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need for self-defense, we conclude that the State’s licensing regime violates the Constitution.”

It was the first major gun case that has been before the Supreme Court in more than 10 years.

“Why isn’t it good enough to say I live in a violent area and I want to defend myself?” Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked.

If a resident applied for a concealed carry permit in the state, they have historically been required to provide a reason for seeking the permit, such as a threat to their life or working a dangerous job. This requirement to show “proper cause” is what has been struck down, paving way to a likely flood of concealed carry permits across New York.

This is a developing story.