Gun Rights Group Cheers as Appeals Court Hits NY Concealed Carry Law

(DailyVantage.com) – It’s a mixed victory for gun rights activists after a federal appeals court struck down certain provisions of a New York law that would significantly bar people from securing concealed carry permits for their firearms.

Last year, Democratic lawmakers in New York passed the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act” (CCIA), which added several requirements for securing a concealed carry permit for firearms in the state. Among the requirements were completing 18 hours’ worth of training on state and federal gun laws, safe storage requirements for firearms, situational awareness, and other topics. The law also requires applicants to show proof of “good moral character” and bars firearms completely in “sensitive” areas such as Times Square, places of worship, public transit, and sporting venues. Other requirements included applicants disclosing their social media accounts. The law also prohibited carrying a concealed weapon on private property without the property owner’s express consent.

Previously, New York State passed even stricter concealed carry permit laws, but gun activists brought the matter to the Supreme Court, which determined them unconstitutional.

The 261-page decision of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ struck down provisions of the New York law such as the disclosure of social media accounts as well as the restrictions on carrying a concealed firearm on private property and places of worship. A number of provisions will still be enforced, such as the requirement for proof of good moral character and the disclosure of household and family members on the application. The state can also still enforce a complete ban on concealed carry firearms in “sensitive” places like public transit, theaters, bars, public parks, and the like.

In a statement, Erich Pratt, the senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, lauded the appeals court’s decision. “Governor [Kathy] Hochul and her cabal in Albany never seem to get the message,” he said, that the gun control laws they (Democrats) push for are, at the end of the day, unconstitutional.