The court could rule that the current standard is too strict, requiring New York to relax its standards; or it is too vague, forcing the state to give more guidance to licensing officials. “Those are two different types of potential constitutional problems that will require two different types of responses from the legislature,” Mr. Blocher said. And depending on what the judges say, there could still be significant restrictions on gun-carrying in New York City.
In New York State, a handgun license is approved or denied by local officials, usually a state court judge or police department. In New York City, the police department handles all such permitting cases.
Although the state court system does not keep a centralized database of the number of permits approved or denied, they are often easier to obtain in rural areas than in cities, according to the attorney general. of New York, Barbara D. Underwood, who argued for the state’s case. before the Supreme Court.
But those calling for the law’s repeal have said it gives local officials too many discretionary powers. Aidan Johnston, federal affairs director for Gun Owners of America, a pro-gun advocacy group, said: “New York’s concerns are unfounded and violate our rights, and cause New Yorkers are disarmed in the face of evil.
Asked about such data from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group, showed correlation between weakening gun laws and higher murder and suicide ratesMr. Johnston said that there was no provable relationship between the two. He argued that New York City has “a crime problem, not a Second Amendment problem.”
In New York’s cities and in many parts of the nation, shootings and other forms of gun crime have increased dramatically starting in the summer of 2020, and law enforcement authorities have said that the prospect of more New Yorkers carrying guns would likely increase the difficulty. difficult jobs.
“When an officer stops someone with a gun in sight, they now have to ask themselves questions,” said John Miller, deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism for the police department. “What’s the difference between someone who’s going to shoot me and someone who’s going to pull their license out of their wallet?”
