Here’s a roundup of some of the latest legislative efforts, court cases, and news related to New York gun rights and the Second Amendment:
Posted 1/24/2025
Legislative Efforts
Governor Hochul’s Legislation: Governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of six bills aimed at strengthening New York’s gun laws. These include measures to require gun sellers to post tobacco-style safety warnings and to take action against dangerous “pistol convertors”.
State Senate Actions: The New York State Senate passed measures to fund anti-violence education in schools, add restrictions to the open carry of long guns, and establish a ten-day waiting period for firearm purchases.
Court Cases
Supreme Court Rulings: The Supreme Court has been active in Second Amendment cases, including the landmark decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which struck down New York’s proper-cause requirement for concealed carry permits.
Federal Court Decisions: A federal appeals court recently upheld New York’s ban on firearms in certain “sensitive” locations but struck down other aspects of the state’s new gun rules, such as the requirement for handgun license applicants to turn over social media account information.
United States v. Rahimi: The Supreme Court upheld a federal law that bars individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing guns.
News
February 11, 2025
Recent Supreme Court Relists: The Supreme Court has relisted two Second Amendment cases for its conference: Snope v. Brown, concerning Maryland’s ban on semiautomatic rifles, and Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, regarding a ban on magazines in common use
Snope v. Brown is a federal lawsuit challenging Maryland’s “assault weapons” ban as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs include David Snope, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation, and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. It is the first “assault weapon” ban challenge to reach the Supreme Court post-Bruen following a final judgment.
Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island is a legal case where the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit examined an appeal against a district court’s refusal to issue a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of a Rhode Island law that bans certain large-capacity ammunition magazines. The case was docketed on August 6, 2024, and the decision was made on March 7, 2024. This case is significant as it addresses issues related to gun rights and state regulations on firearms
January 15, 2025
Press Release
SAFE Act Nullification Efforts: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduced the Second Amendment Guarantee Act (SAGA) to nullify New York’s SAFE Act and prevent other states from enacting similar gun bans.
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced the Second Amendment Guarantee Act (SAGA) to ensure that states are prohibited from banning the manufacture, sale, importation, or possession of any rifle or shotgun that is lawfully permitted under federal law.
Additional cosponsors of this legislation include Representative Doug LaMalfa (CA-1) and Nick Langworthy (NY-23).
New York’s SAFE Act, signed into law under disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, prohibits law-abiding New Yorkers from purchasing, transferring, and owning certain firearms. If signed into law, this SAGA Act would nullify the SAFE Act and prevent New York and other states from passing unconstitutional gun bans.
“The Constitution clearly established our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The SAGA Act nullifies New York’s unconstitutional SAFE Act and prevents other states from enacting laws that violate the Second Amendment. This legislation upholds our country’s founding principle of protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans, even from liberal states with anti-gun policies,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“No matter how hard radical Democrats in Albany attempt to limit lawful gun ownership, the New York Congressional delegation will stand firm to protect law-abiding New Yorkers and manufacturers in protecting their constitutional rights. I am proud to join Rep. Tenney and my New York colleagues in Congress to ensure these rights ‘shall not be infringed, and I will never back down in my fight to protect the Second Amendment,” said Congressman Langworthy.