New York Forced To Allow Non-Resident Carry After Supreme Court Ruling

Do you ever travel to New York City? Do you concealed carry? Concerned about your safety while visiting? Great, then keep reading! The right to keep and bear arms and the city of New York go together like toasters and bathtubs. Thankfully, the landmark Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, delivered some much-needed relief to NYC residents as it struck down a law, dating back a century, which required New Yorkers to show “proper cause” in order to obtain a concealed carry permit and exercise their Constitutional right to defend themselves. It seems now the fallout from that decision could also open up a path for non-residents to apply for permits to carry in the state.

One decision to rule them all

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision, issued in July 2022, is the foundation for multiple lawsuits that challenged state and federal firearm regulations. One such lawsuit filed by Gun Owners of America (GOA) alongside the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) sparked a legal debate as to whether New York’s gun laws violated the Constitutional rights of nonresidents, with the GOA stating, "New York is one of a very few states where nonresidents are not allowed to exercise their Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.”

To address the many Americans who work in but may not necessarily be a resident of the city, the New York City Police Department adopted an emergency rule last week allowing nonresidents to apply for concealed carry permits, a rule which could open the door for out-of-state applicants as well. The new rule, signed into law on August 6th by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, may have positive implications for out-of-staters visiting New York as the state grants no form of reciprocity to concealed carry permit holders from other parts of the country.

Ever vigilant, however, Erich Pratt, GOA's senior vice president, vowed to monitor local cases to ensure concealed carry permits are issued to applicants in a "timely and non-onerous manner”, warning that any failure of the NYPD to comply would cause GOA to “gladly” file suit once again, naming the department and Mayor Adams as defendants.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below about this new law, reciprocity, and if the changes will impact you.