Today, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate New York State’s gun laws. They argue that these laws infringe on Second Amendment rights despite Supreme Court precedents.
The letter states, “I write to you to urge the Department of Justice to investigate New York State’s infringement of New Yorkers’ Second Amendment rights and ensure that these rights are upheld for all citizens by taking the appropriate action to remedy these infringements. New York State has enacted and enforced a sweeping regime of laws that infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of its citizens, in direct defiance of precedent set by the Supreme Court and the Constitution. This is unacceptable, and law-abiding gunowners must be protected.”
The lawmakers point out specific restrictions: “New York’s restrictions include a categorical ban on commonly owned semiautomatic rifles, licensing and registration of constitutionally protected arms, and an arbitrary cap on magazine capacity. These restrictions amount to a structural repudiation of the Second Amendment and an unconstitutional infringement on gunowners’ rights. These restrictions violate the Supreme Court precedents set in DC v. Heller, McDonald v. City of Chicago, and NYSRPA v. Bruen.”
They refer to a 2022 Supreme Court decision as significant: “As you know, in 2022, the Supreme Court delivered a major victory for law-abiding gun owners in New York State in its decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen. This ruling struck down New York’s Sullivan Act which required concealed carry permit applicants to justify their desire for a concealed carry permit and required firearm regulations to be viewed in the context of the ‘historical tradition of firearm regulations.’ While this was a tremendous step in restoring rights to New York gun owners, their Constitutional rights are still being unnecessarily and unconstitutionally restricted.”
They emphasize federal responsibility: “As you also know, the Department of Justice has a long history of investigating and addressing infringement of Constitutional rights by the States, and we urge the Department to take the appropriate actions to uphold New Yorkers’ Second Amendment rights. The Second Amendment is not a suggestion; it is a Constitutional guarantee that requires enforcement.”
The signatories conclude with urgency: “I urge you to act swiftly to investigate New York’s constitutional infringement and fight to uphold New Yorkers’ Second Amendment rights. Albany lawmakers have unconstitutionally restricted the rights of New Yorkers for too long. I look forward to hearing from you and have complete faith in your ability and willingness to fight for these essential rights.”
