In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a New York law that restricted gun owners’ ability to carry weapons in public. The verdict is expected to have nationwide implications, particularly in states with similar laws, including New Jersey — although the state’s permitting process is considered among the toughest in the nation. This is the first major decision by the court on guns in over a decade.
New York’s law required gun owners to demonstrate a specific need to be granted a concealed carry permit. Writing for the court’s conservative majority, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the law violated “an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.”
Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday issued a statement saying, “Let there be no mistake — this dangerous decision will make America a less safe country. But let me be equally clear that, here in New Jersey, we will do everything in our power to protect our residents.”
