A federal appeals court on Thursday reaffirmed that New York state can continue to restrict firearms in “sensitive” areas such as public transportation, hospitals and schools.

The decision, issued by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s direction to reevaluate previous decisions in light of major gun incidents in 2022. According to To the Associated Press. Even though the high court’s ruling in June loosened gun regulations in other situations, the 2nd Circuit ruled that New York’s regulations targeting specific locations are different and may remain in place. The decision was made. The court emphasized that it had reviewed its previous decisions as directed, but that the results remained largely unchanged.

While the decision is significant, it does not end the legal battle, as the Second Circuit noted that it was handed down “at a very early stage in this litigation,” the Associated Press reported. Both sides have the opportunity to present further arguments and evidence, which could affect the outcome as the case progresses.

In December 2023, a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit decided to ban firearms in 20 “sensitive” locations designated by New York state and to require handgun license holders to “be in good faith.” The Associated Press reported that he supported requiring proof of “morality.” However, the court struck down the requirement for applicants to disclose their social media accounts and invalidated a blanket ban on concealed weapons in certain public places, such as stores and restaurants.

Federal appeals court upholds New York state’s gun ban in sensitive areas https://t.co/o32PpDDnpM

— WFXR News (@WFXRnews) October 24, 2024

New York’s latest gun regulations, enacted after the Supreme Court struck down previous regulations, sparked a fight between gun rights advocates and lawmakers, the newspaper said. The law eases the process for obtaining handgun permits, but expands the list of places where firearms are prohibited, including schools, zoos, bars, theaters and voting places, in the wake of the Buffalo shooting that left 10 Black residents dead. did.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, hailed the decision as a public safety victory. She praised the court for upholding what she described as “common sense steps” that have contributed to New York’s low gun death rate, the Associated Press reported. Eric Pratt, executive vice president of Gun Owners of America, expressed displeasure with the ruling, calling it a “slap in the face” to the Supreme Court and gun owners in the states.

“The Second Circuit got it wrong the first time, but SCOTUS told us so and told us to do it again. This nearly identical decision is a slap in the face to the judge and to every gun owner in New York.” AP Judge Platt said in a communications statement. Reported.

But Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James saw the ruling as another victory for gun safety advocates. “Repeated attempts to weaken gun safety regulations have resulted in another victory,” James said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

A federal district court previously ruled that laws prohibiting the use of firearms on private property without the owner’s express consent are unconstitutional. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York has blocked enforcement of a law in New York that would make it a felony to possess a firearm unless the owner gives permission, either through a sign or direct consent. (Related: US court rules machine gun ban unconstitutional)

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