Federal Judge Rules NYC's Gun Licensing Restrictions Unconstitutional

Judge John P. Cronan finds "good moral character" requirement for gun permits excessively discretionary and without historical validation, effectively ending practice of denying licenses on such grounds; city can still appeal before the ruling goes into effect at midnight Thursday.

A Manhattan federal judge, John P. Cronan, ruled New York City's gun restrictions as unconstitutional, opposing requirements that permit applicants must prove they have “good moral character.
The lawsuit was filed by Brooklyn resident Joseph Srour, who was denied a gun permit in 2019 due to prior arrests, bad driving history and supposed false statements on applications.
Cronan argues that the law violated an individual's second and 14th constitutional amendments, criticizing the discretionary standards as broad, unrestrained and without historical validation.
The ruling follows on from a June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision which facilitated the process of obtaining handgun permits, leading to the passing of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act.
Cronan's ruling gives NYC until midnight Thursday to file an appeal before it comes into effect.