July 20, 2021
For immediate release

GOA, GOF Tell SCOTUS to “Reject and Repudiate” New York’s Gun Control, and to “Protect Pre-existing and Unalienable Rights of the People”

Springfield, VA – Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) and the Heller Foundation have submitted an amicus brief in NYSRPA v Bruen, a case that challenges New York’s infringing “may-issue” permitting system before the Supreme Court.

The brief demonstrates before the Court how this permitting system is inconsistent with our Founders’ vision for a protected right to bear arms, stating:

[T]he Second Amendment expressly identifies its purpose… It thus was necessary to preserve a free state, in which the rulers of the nation were ever aware that the People were armed, so that there would be a point beyond which they could not go in abusing their powers…

Having failed to respect the rights of its residents, and having failed to ensure their safety, New York has absolutely no business prohibiting the bearing of arms by the People.

Furthermore, the brief urges the Court to clearly rule in accordance with the plain text of the Second Amendment, leaving no room for lower courts to apply “balancing tests” to allow for infringements of the right to keep and bear arms, stating:

As to the responsibility of government to “secure” the right to self-defense, the lower court has done a perfectly terrible job. It has sanctioned New York State’s eradication of the pre-existing right of the People to bear arms outside the home. The tendency of government to grow government power is no surprise, as the Declaration of Independence recognizes that governments sometimes become abusive of the rights of the People… Thus, it now falls upon this Court to reject and repudiate the decision of the Second Circuit, and to protect pre-existing and unalienable rights of the People.

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President for GOA and GOF stated, “GOA and GOF are proud to ensure a ‘no compromise’ message is presented before the Supreme Court, as this brief strikes at the core of the most egregious gun control in the entire country. Gun owners nationwide look forward to the Court ruling with the ‘text, history and tradition’ of the Second Amendment and striking down New York’s infringing ‘may-issue’ permit system.”

The brief can be viewed in full here.

Erich Pratt, or another GOA spokesperson, is available for interviews. Gun Owners of America, and its sister organization Gun Owners Foundation, are nonprofits dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

— GOA —