Supreme Court strikes down New York gun law restricting concealed carry in major Second Amendment case

A U.S. Supreme Court police officer stands past gun-rights demonstrators outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a New York state law that required applicants for a license to carry a concealed gun to have a "proper cause" to do so.

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen is a major victory for gun rights advocates who had challenged New York's restrictive law which makes it a crime to carry a concealed firearm without a license.

It is the Supreme Court's biggest expansion of gun rights in more than a decade and casts doubt on laws in eight other states and the District of Columbia that restrict concealed-carry permits.

The law, which has been in existence for more than a century, was invalidated by the Supreme Court's six conservative justices.

Justice Stephen Breyer dissented from the decision to uphold the law.

New York's law prevented law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms in public.

Kathy Hochul blasted the ruling, saying that it was outrageous that the Supreme Court had struck down a New York law.

The case was brought by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and two of its members, Robert Nash and Brandon Koch.

Both men failed to demonstrate that they had a special need for self- protection when they requested to carry guns in public.

The state law governing concealed-carry licenses is in violation of the Second Amendment, according to the lawsuit. Good moral character was required by the law.

The case was dismissed by a federal judge in New York. The case was taken by the supreme court.

Thomas wrote that New York's proper-cause requirement was inconsistent with the history of firearm regulation in the nation.

Law-abiding citizens can carry handguns in public if they have not demonstrated a need for self-defense.

Many States have tried to address some of the dangers of gun violence by passing laws that limit, in various ways, who can purchase, carry, or use firearms.

The court burdens States with their efforts to do so.

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