STATEWIDE — THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECLINED TO RULE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF NEW YORK STATE’S LAW requiring “good moral character” to carry a handgun; and Gov. Kathy Hochul is praising their choice.
The court declined Monday to decide whether a New York law that requires residents to have “good moral character” is constitutional, leaving in place most of the state’s ban on carrying weapons in “sensitive places,” such as schools, parks and theaters. Without explaining its rationale, and with no dissents, the court thus handed a victory to New York officials, including State Attorney General Letitia James, and gun control groups, who have been attempting to approve or defend gun prohibitions.
“New York’s strong gun safety laws save lives, and gun violence has declined by 53 percent since a pandemic-era peak,” said Hochul. “Today, the Supreme Court has officially rejected an attempt to block this critical legislation, ensuring the core tenets of the law I signed in 2022 will remain in effect. Public safety will always be my top priority, and I’ll continue fighting to keep New Yorkers safe.”
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