CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the U.S. Supreme Court made the correct decision finding that a New York state law placing onerous requirements on concealed carry permits infringes on the right to carry firearms in self-defense.
A New York state law requires anyone wanting to carry a firearm in public to obtain a license and demonstrate “proper cause.” The case went to the nation’s highest court when two New York residents applied for unrestricted licenses to carry handguns for self-defense, but were only granted restricted licenses to carry handguns for specific purposes, including hunting and target shooting.
The residents, backed by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and the National Rifle Association, sought to overturn the “proper cause” requirement, arguing it was unconstitutional under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down New York’s concealed carry law in a 6-3 ruling written by Justice Clarence Thomas. The Court’s three liberals dissented.
“Because of this U.S. Supreme Court ruling, New York will no longer be permitted to impose substantial and unconstitutional burdens on the right to bear arms,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “We need to keep our Second Amendment gun rights intact, not only to protect New York citizens but all legitimate gun owners as well.”
West Virginia joined the 26-state amicus brief in support of the petitioners.