By: Austin Deng

Last week, The Supreme Court struck down New York’s restriction on who could carry concealed firearms. Previously, New York had required residents who wanted to conceal their firearm prove they had a “proper cause.”

The six-justice conservative majority interpreted the Second Amendment broadly, claiming that the restriction on concealed carry interfered with the right to keep and bear arms.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised he would begin reviewing other possible ways to restrict gun access. Tightening the application process for firearms and banning certain firearms in specific locations are laws that New York may look into.

Maryland, California, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Massachusetts have similar gun restriction laws that could face legal challenges after the ruling.

The ruling comes amid political divisions over how to address gun violence. Recent mass shootings such as the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings have increased the political divide over the issue of gun control.

President Joe Biden said he was “deeply disappointed” by the Supreme Court’s decision, which “contradicts both common sense and the Constitution, and should trouble us all”.

While many Democrats were disappointed at the Supreme Court’s ruling, many gun lobbies, including the NRA celebrated. The NRA had financially supported Robert Nash and Brandon Koch, the two plaintiffs in the case against New York.

As the court continues to strike down gun restrictions, the precedent set will make it increasingly difficult for Supreme Court justices to interpret the Constitution in a way to permit broader gun restrictions.

In his dissent, Justice Breyer noted the toll that gun violence has taken on the United States. “Since the start of this year alone, there have already been 277 reported mass shootings – an average of more than one per day,” he said.

Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61915237