New York Officials React to Supreme Court Overthrowing Conceal Carry Law

Reaction is coming swiftly in New York following the Supreme Court decision striking down the state’s 108-year-old law against the concealed carry of guns.

The law, that’s been in effect at least since 1914 stated a person cannot carry a concealed weapon in public unless they have been granted a license and show a justifiable need for self-defense.

Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul called the 6 to 3 ruling “reckless and reprehensible.” She convened the Mayors of New York’s largest cities: Albany, Buffalo (which was the scene of a recent mass murder of Black shoppers at a supermarket), Syracuse, Yonkers and New York City to discuss the impact of the decision and policy options.

Hochul says, “My team has been preparing for this decision and exploring every possible action, and we are in discussion with the legislature about our legislative options. We are not powerless and we will do everything in our power to protect New Yorkers."

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Democrat U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says the ruling is dangerous while Republican Trump Conservative Congresswoman Claudia Tenney praises the ruling as a protection of the right of American Citizens to keep and bear arms. Tenney is a long-time recipient of support from the National Rifle Association.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called New York’s century-old “proper cause requirement” in its concealed carry gun licensing law, “a common sense law” and said the Supreme Court decision “is incredibly disappointing.”  The Democrat says in the upcoming days her office will be taking action to address what she says is the “potential harm” the ruling may cause.

The ruling comes after the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and two people who had been denied a conceal carry license sued New York State claiming their Second Amendment rights were violated.  Prior to the case making it to the Conservative-majority Supreme Court, the lawsuit had been dismissed in lower courts.