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Cities and law enforcement officials across New York state are concerned that an impending U.S. Supreme Court ruling could lead to more people hiding and carrying guns — and officials are considering legislative efforts to counter the potential ruling.
A Supreme Court ruling on the legality of New York’s gun permitting system could come as early as this week, with some in the state worrying that a decision to overturn the state’s law would make gun access easier and make gun crimes more common. Will go
In a press conference on Monday, Dr. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, Said that the prospect of overturning New York’s law “keeps me up at night.”
“We’re going to look at the ruling because the ruling can happen at many different levels. We’re going to look at the ruling and see what powers we have and what kind of laws we need from our federal lawmakers that Stop the Supreme Court’s decision from affecting our cities.
Officials stressed that even if this changes it will not happen overnight and that everyone will have some time to get used to.
New York does not allow people to carry guns outside their homes unless they have previously shown the state “reasonable reason” to carry a firearm; The question before the court is whether licensed gun holders will have to prove the need to carry a gun in the state. If courts make it easier to obtain concealed carry permits, officials expect more people to hide and carry guns.
“I am very worried,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, a former top commander in the New York Police Department who is now the top police officer in a large suburban county on Long Island, New York. “John Q. Public finds a gun he hasn’t been trained to use and now comes upon someone he thinks is committing a crime.
“Next thing you know, people are going to try to be super cops and take things into their own hands. Now you have a shooting incident that doesn’t guarantee that type of outcome,” Harrison said. “There are a lot of violent incidents that come from people carrying firearms. Are they properly trained? Will they take matters into their own hands? People are not trained, taking matters into their own hands is worrying.”
Lower courts have largely allowed good-cause, but they are opposed to the DC case where a court overturned the district’s good-cause requirement. Every state allows concealed carry in public handguns, according to Every Town for Gun SafetyA gun safety advocacy group.
half state, including New YorkCarrying a concealed handgun in public requires some permission process. Twenty-two states require some training in concealment and carry, and eight states require a person to “show good reason or special need” to be able to carry and obtain a concealed carry gun in public. to be able concealed carry permit, According to Everytown, about 25 percent of the U.S. population lives in “good reason” states like New York.
A decision that overturns New York law could lead to more people hiding and carrying guns in New York by easing the permitting process for potential gun carriers and limiting the state’s ability to deny permits. .
New York already banned Prohibits people under the age of 21 from hiding and carrying, and prohibits where people can carry guns – they are banned in roadside rest areas and state parks, and the law prohibits hotels and employers Whether guns can be kept on those properties.
The law enforcement group that weighed in on the matter The case before the US Supreme Court was divided on this issue New York’s Gun Laws,
the former police chief, in a brief filed in September, said that “may-issue” gun permit laws that give states the authority to change how they approve gun permits “was an important component of their obligation to protect their citizens.” ” That group included former police chiefs in Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Boston, and around the country, along with Bill Bratton, considered a prominent politician in law enforcement leadership circles.
Separately, from law enforcement advocacy groups New York to California And a handful of shooting and gun associations have argued that the outbreak of “murders and shootings” has since George Floyd’s 2020 death “Extended the need for self-defense where it’s needed most: outside the home.” That group included national and local police groups, sports shooting groups across the country, and police education and legal groups.
some states Carry without a valid permit since the start of the pandemic, which generally allows adults to carry guns without any permission or screening process. This was opposed by some law enforcement groups.
Harrison said guns complicate police response to any incident.
“Think of the police officer who sees a man carrying a firearm, what harm are you doing to the officer who treats people in a certain way who holds a firearm. going in,” Harrison said.
Bronx District Attorney Darsel Clark Said that the city has fought gun violence. Clark, who currently has 1,200 open gun cases, says the change in law could cause problems for prosecutors.
“I don’t know what it’s going to do in the current affairs,” Clark said. “I don’t know if a defense lawyer would say ‘it was illegal but now my client wants to apply for a license.’ I don’t know what the consequences will be.”
So far this year, 216 people have been shot in the Bronx and police have recovered 552 guns from arrests, according to Clark. And while some may want to carry a gun for safety, Clark says carrying a firearm doesn’t make you any safer.
“They can be killed too,” she said. “Just because you have a gun doesn’t mean you’re safer than anyone else. In the cases we have right now, both sides have guns and both sides are getting killed.”
Clark said that even someone having a weapon would probably do nothing better than intervening.
“That good man with the gun may still be a good man with the gun, but may also hurt someone else,” Clark said. “There is friendly fire with the police as well. Guns are dangerous in anyone’s hands.”