Supreme Court considers major gun rights case

The conservatives on the bench seemed prepared to strike down a New York law that prevents gun owners from carrying a firearm in public in most circumstances. But after further deliberation on Wednesday, several expressed concern that a broad ruling could threaten gun restrictions on subways or at bars, stadiums, and other gathering places. This is the first time the Supreme Court has taken up a gun rights case since the landmark 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller, which clarified that the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms at home for self-defense.

What is at stake? New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood said the restriction preserves public safety. Gun control activists warned that removing the law would cause crime spikes in NYC, Los Angeles, and other major cities. Gun rights groups argued that citizens have the right to defend themselves in public, especially in urban areas where people might wield illegal guns. The conservative justices questioned city officials about the benchmarks for obtaining a carry permit and on the whole agreed the law is too restrictive. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett and others worried that striking down the law without clear guidance in its place could endanger public venues like sports games, parades, and universities.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard and Jenny Rough introduce upcoming Supreme Court cases on the Legal Docket podcast.