A federal judge on Thursday halted parts of New York’s new gun licensing law.
US District Judge Glenn Suddaby, a George W. Bush appointee said key provisions in Hochul’s new law limiting concealed carry of firearms in “sensitive” locations are unconstitutional.
The US Supreme Court in June struck down New York’s century-old law on carrying concealed weapons.
Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the state could decide who it wanted to have this right and who it didn’t.
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Democrat Governor Hochul signed into law a bill that limits concealed carry of firearms in “sensitive” locations in wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The new law lays out a strict licensing process to obtain a concealed-carry permit and a list of locations deemed “sensitive” — including Times Square — where firearm possession will be illegal, according to the legislative text. Other areas defined as sensitive include government-owned buildings, schools, health care facilities, places of worship and public transportation. People who carry a gun in a prohibited location could be charged with a felony under the law.” CNN reported.
“I just signed a new law to keep New Yorkers safe – even in the face of a monumental setback from the Supreme Court.” Hochul said in July.
Judge Suddaby said key provisions of New York’s new law are unconstitutional.
The judge gave New York “three days to seek emergency relief before a federal appeals court,” AP reported.
AP reported:
A federal judge halted key provisions Thursday of New York’s latest attempt to restrict who can carry a handgun in public and where firearms can be brought, saying multiple parts of a law the state passed this year are unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby focused on multiple parts of the law, saying licensing requirements — like a rule requiring applicants to turn over information about their social media accounts — went too far.
“Simply stated, instead of moving toward becoming a shall-issue jurisdiction, New York State has further entrenched itself as a shall-not-issue jurisdiction. And, by doing so, it has further reduced a first-class constitutional right to bear arms in public for self defense … into a mere request,” wrote Suddaby, who sits in Syracuse.
The ruling would keep restrictions in place that bar firearms from being carried into schools, government buildings and places of worship, but the judge said the state couldn’t ban guns from other sensitive locations, such as Times Square.