For the first time, the court’s conservative majority held that carrying a weapon in public for self-defence is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Democratic leaders in New York have denounced the decision and the court, arguing that if more individuals carry firearms, there would be an increase in gun violence. They acknowledged that in order to comply with the verdict, the state’s century-old permit system must be relaxed, but they made an effort to maintain as many limits as they could in the interest of public safety. Some will probably be the focus of more legal disputes. The court determined that the previous licence system in New York, which goes back to 1911, provided officials too much latitude in deciding whether to grant permission.
Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who called for the extraordinary session of the legislature, said that thanks to the state’s strict gun licencing laws, New York had the fifth-lowest rate of firearm fatalities among the 50 states in the country. During a press conference in Albany, the state’s capital, where lawmakers were debating the bill, she stated, “Our state will continue to protect New Yorkers safe from harm, even despite this setback from the Supreme Court.” They may believe that they can alter our life with the click of a pen, but we also have pens. In its decision, the court acknowledged that carrying a handgun could be prohibited in some “sensitive settings,” but it also cautioned lawmakers against using the term too broadly. Additionally, the court made it simpler for pro-gun organisations to get a restriction overturned.
When the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was established in the 18th century, allowing states to maintain militias and outlining a right to “keep and bear Arms,” it was decided that any laws governing guns were likely to be unconstitutional. The law that was passed on Friday makes it a felony crime to carry a gun into a new list of sensitive locations, which includes: public transportation, including the New York City subway, places where alcohol or marijuana is consumed, government buildings, medical facilities, places of worship, libraries, playgrounds, parks, zoos, summer camps, schools, colleges, and summer camps.
