Text/Look at the United States
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the 23rd that people enjoy the basic right to carry guns in public places, and Biden criticized this as contrary to common sense. At present, the problem of gun violence in the United States has surged, and the US Supreme Court's ruling will have far-reaching implications for states and cities.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a New York state law by a vote of 6 to 3. The law requires individuals to show "just cause" to obtain permission to carry a firearm outdoors. Several other states, such as California, have similar laws, and the Supreme Court's ruling will constrain those states to restrict people's ability to carry guns in public places.
About 25 percent of Americans could be affected by the decision, including those in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey, all of which have similar laws that could be overturned at the federal level. Moreover, this decision could have a knock-on effect across the United States.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion. Thomas writes, "We argue that the Constitution presumes protect individual conduct when the explicit text of the Second Amendment covers such conduct." To justify its regulation, governments may not simply assume that it promotes significant benefits. Instead, the government must prove that the regulation is consistent with the country's historic tradition of gun control. ”
Judge Samuel Alito wrote that the case depends on the Second Amendment. Alito wrote, "The only decision we made in this case was that the Second Amendment protected the right of law-abiding people to carry guns outdoors in self-defense, and that the Sullivan Act made it nearly impossible for most New Yorkers to do that, which was unconstitutional." ”
Still, Judge Stephen Breyer, who disagrees with that, said the New York legislature initially "passed a reasonable licensing law" that allows citizens to conceal and carry guns to keep people "safe." He added that the Supreme Court "limits the ability of the legislature to decide what is best for citizens, adding that judges don't fully understand how New York State's laws are enforced in practice, how much discretion New York State's licensed officials have, and whether the criteria for justification vary by county."
Breyer wrote, "I cannot agree with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn New York state law without allowing the discovery or development of any evidence record, without taking into account the state's urgent interests in preventing gun violence and protecting the safety of citizens, or considering the potentially fatal consequences of its decision." ”
Of the 9 Justices, Chief Justice John Roberts and Assistant Justices Thomas, Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Kony Barrett supported the repeal of the law, while Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan opposed it.
New York Governor Kathy Hochel expressed disappointment at the recent mass shootings. Kathy Hochel wrote on Twitter, "At a time of national reckoning with gun violence, the Supreme Court recklessly overturned a New York law restricting those who could carry hidden weapons, which was intolerable." She added that she "will continue to do everything I can" to reduce gun violence, with one option likely to include a special session in the state legislature.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the decision would prompt city, state and federal officials to "protect our city." That includes defining "sensitive locations" where guns are prohibited, and reviewing permit applications, he said. "We will work together to mitigate the risks that come with this decision because we cannot make New York the Wild West," Adams said. One thing is certain: We will do everything we can, with all available resources, to ensure that what we have achieved during this administration is not erased and that some New Yorkers are no longer at risk of gun violence. This decision may open up an extra river for the ocean of gun violence, but we will do everything we can to stop it. ”
Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the New York City Partnership, which represents New York City's business leaders and largest employers, called the decision "a major setback." Wilder said in a statement that "the business community will support state legislation to offset the impact of this decision and restore greater control over gun ownership and the carrying of concealed weapons." ”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden also issued a statement saying he was "disappointed" by the ruling overturning a law that has been in effect since 1911. "More than a century later, the U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to overturn New York's longstanding authority to protect its citizens," Biden said. This ruling, which is contrary to both common sense and the Constitution, should deeply haunt us all. ”