<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655996637128,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-c093-df17-a7ff-cedfaaf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655996637128,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-c093-df17-a7ff-cedfaaf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55916521", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1034266"} }); ","_id":"00000181-9117-d789-a3f7-99774f560001","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedLawmakers alternatively praised and criticized a Supreme Court decision on Thursday striking down a New York law that prohibited most people from carrying handguns in public, finding the Second Amendment protects carrying a concealed gun outside the home.
The ruling comes as the Senate prepares to pass a compromise between Republican and Democratic negotiators on legislation to combat gun violence following several recent mass shootings, including one at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.
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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said in a statement that the ruling is “not just irresponsible, it is downright dangerous.”
“Our nation is in the middle of a gun violence epidemic and instead of working to protect our communities, this court has made it even easier for potentially dangerous people to carry concealed handguns in public spaces,” Gillibrand said.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), however, applauded the ruling, saying it “upholds the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and correctly declares New York’s shameful attempt to shred Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers unconstitutional.”
“While the Far-Left continues to push unconstitutional gun control measures as New York’s failed bail reform policies have made our communities more unsafe, this ruling comes at a crucial time,” Stefanik said. “Now, law-abiding gun owners in New York State and across the nation can again exercise their Constitutional right to concealed carry to protect themselves and their families.”
Other New York Democratic lawmakers including Reps. Ritchie Torres and Yvette Clarke criticized the ruling, arguing it will spur more gun violence.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) singled out Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the opinion of the court in a 6-3 decision, for criticism.
Republican lawmakers argued the ruling was a victory for the Second Amendment.
The Senate is expected to pass as soon as Thursday a bill by a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators including Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX), which would grant funding for states to implement red flag laws or other crisis prevention measures, enhance some background checks, and close the so-called boyfriend loophole, a gap in federal law that bars spouses but not dating partners convicted of domestic abuse from gun ownership. The bill would also provide funding for some mental health resources and school safety measures.
Negotiators crafted a narrow bill designed to garner enough Republican votes to clear the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) this week backed the deal. He said on the Senate floor Thursday the gun bill does not “lay one finger on the Second Amendment.”
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed cloture on the bill Tuesday, and the upper chamber will vote to end debate Thursday, triggering up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate and allowing passage of the bill as soon as Thursday if there is an agreement to shrink that window of time and Friday if not.
