Skip to Main Content

Giffords Law Center Reacts to Supreme Court Decision 

April 27, 2020 — Today, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence reacted to the US Supreme Court’s ruling in a case brought by the New York State affiliate of the NRA. The case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York, was the first major case involving the Second Amendment to be heard by the Supreme Court since District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008 and McDonald v. City of Chicago in 2010.

Hannah Shearer, Litigation Director, Giffords Law Center:

“Today’s decision to dismiss the case as moot is a victory for the rule of law and common-sense, constitutional gun safety laws. It’s yet another loss for an NRA and gun lobby that are in disarray and at odds with the majority of Americans who want the government to keep them safe.

“The surge in gun sales and the increasing risk of gun suicides, domestic violence, and accidents that have come with it have proven gun violence is an ongoing threat that must be met with the flexibility to enforce common-sense regulations. Today’s decision rejects the NRA’s invitation to use a moot case to enact its extreme agenda aimed at gutting gun safety laws supported by a majority of Americans.

“As the gun lobby continues to advance its deadly interpretation of the constitution, we will continue to stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who support life-saving gun safety laws by arguing for them in courtrooms across the country. We will not allow the NRA to deprive the public of the right to enact measures that protect communities from gun violence.”

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE:

 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York is a case challenging now-repealed New York City regulations limiting the locations to which holders of a “premise license” could transport their handguns both within and outside of the city. Despite the fact that the rules are now repealed, the NRA hoped to use this case to roll back gun safety legislation nationwide.

The former rule prohibited transporting firearms to gun ranges, shooting competitions and second homes outside of the city. Restrictions like New York City’s old rule do not exist anywhere else in the United States, nor is there an effort to implement similar regulations anywhere.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the New York State affiliate of the NRA.

This case is the first major Second Amendment case to go before the Supreme Court since District of Columbia v. Helle r in 2008 and McDonald v. City of Chicago in 2010. While the Supreme Court had not heard a major case involving gun rights for nearly a decade, the appellate courts have been very active. They have developed a consistent and effective approach to interpreting the constitutionality of gun-violence-prevention measures, one that protects both rights and public safety. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. City of New York, the plaintiffs asked the Supreme Court to throw out this approach and replace it with a new and extreme Second Amendment test that could put in legal jeopardy hundreds of gun safety laws across the country that have been proven to save lives.