Supreme Court to Re-Examine Second Amendment, Gun Control Rights

The Supreme Court is expected to take the bench today to discuss gun rights and the Second Amendment. This marks the first time in over a decade that justices will have to re-examine the scope of the right to bear arms in a case brought by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association. The case concerns a law in New York which governs licenses to carry concealed handguns in public for self defense and requires a resident to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver and demonstrate that ‘proper cause’ exists for the permit.

Residents of the state must show that they have a need for the license and that they face a ‘special or unique danger to their life.’ A panel of judges from the 2nd US circuit court of appeals had ruled that the law did not violate the Second Amendment and five other states have similar regulations which include California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.