In a pivotal ruling, a federal appeals court in Manhattan affirmed key aspects of New York’s sweeping gun control law, permitting the state to enforce a range of firearm restrictions. Among the upheld measures are prohibitions on carrying guns in “sensitive” locations, including schools, parks, theaters, bars, and Times Square. The court also authorized officials to deny gun permits to individuals deemed a public risk, requiring applicants to demonstrate “good moral character.”
The decision, delivered by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, spans 246 pages and clarifies that New York’s legislation aligns with the Second Amendment’s historical and legal context. This ruling marks the second time the appeals court has taken up the case, revisiting its conclusions after recent guidance from the Supreme Court. However, the panel struck down other aspects of the law, specifically barring restrictions on carrying firearms in private businesses open to the public, such as gas stations and supermarkets.
New York Attorney General Letitia James welcomed the court’s decision as a “victory” in protecting the state from gun violence, while advocates from the Giffords Law Center described the law as a model of public safety. Yet opposition was swift; Erich Pratt from Gun Owners of America called the decision a “slap in the face” to the Supreme Court’s precedent and vowed to continue fighting for broader gun rights in New York.
The appeals court has sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby in Syracuse, where the challenge to the 2022 law initially emerged. As New York grapples with this evolving legal landscape, the ruling underscores a complex balance between gun ownership rights and public safety, with New York officials striving to enforce measures within the boundaries of constitutional protections.
