Judge strikes down recent NYC rules restricting gun licensing as unconstitutional
A federal judge on Tuesday struck down recent provisions in New York City’s gun restrictions as unconstitutional, saying officials have been allowed too much discretion to deny gun permits to people deemed “not of good moral character.”
Judge John P. Cronan in Manhattan said in a written ruling that the “magnitude of discretion” afforded to city gun licensing officials under facets of the city’s administrative code violated the Constitution’s 2nd and 14th amendments.
In particular, the judge cited provisions empowering officials to evaluate an applicant’s “good moral character” and whether “good cause exists for the denial” of gun permits.