U.S. Supreme Court strikes down New York carry conceal gun restriction

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York state law on Thursday that restricted carrying concealed firearms outside a person’s home.

The highly anticipated majority opinion in the 6-3 ruling was written by Justice Clarence Thomas, whom some consider to be the most conservative jurist on the Court.

All six conservative justices voted together to strike down the Empire State law with all three liberal Justices such as Kagan, Sotomayor and Breyer dissenting.

The New York statute required those applying for a concealed carry permit show a specific ‘proper cause’ for the permit by demonstrating a “special need” why they would have to defend themselves, as opposed to basic self-defense. 

The majority opinion asserted that “The New York ‘proper cause’ requirement violates the Constitution because it allows only public-carry licenses when an applicant shows a special need for self-defense.”

The lawsuit challenging the state legislation was filed by two men who applied for concealed carry permits, but were partially denied, granted the pair the right to carry only for hunting purposes and when going to and from work. 

The law was also challenged by the New York State Rifle Association, which asserted that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects their right to carry a firearm without special cause.