Judge temporarily blocks portions of Concealed Carry Improvement Act

On Thursday, Judge Glenn T. Suddaby of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York granted a temporary restraining order in the case Antonyuk v. Hochul, temporarily blocking or modifying some provisions of New York’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act – the state gun control law passed in July.

In response, New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Today's decision comes in the wake of mass shootings and rampant gun violence hurting communities here in New York and across the country. While the decision preserves portions of the law, we believe the entire law must be preserved as enacted. We will appeal this decision. 

"Common-sense gun control regulations help save lives. I will not back down from the fight to protect New Yorkers from repeated and baseless attacks on our state’s gun safety measures. I will continue to defend our responsible gun laws and fight for the safety of everyday New Yorkers.”

The AG’s team said, “All provisions of the CCIA are still in effect until next week, because the trial judge stayed his order to permit the state to consider and pursue appellate options.”

Syracuse.com and the Post-Standard reported, “Suddaby blocked provisions of the law that outlined new requirements for background checks for gun permits, including the disclosure of all of an applicant’s social media accounts. He also blocked the bans on guns in some public and private properties.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "In the wake of the Supreme Court's reckless decision that reversed decades of established law amid a national gun violence crisis, the State Legislature and I acted decisively to keep New Yorkers safe. The Concealed Carry Improvement Act was carefully crafted to put in place common-sense restrictions around concealed carry permits.

"While this decision leaves aspects of the law in place, it is deeply disappointing that the judge wants to limit my ability to keep New Yorkers safe and to prevent more senseless gun violence. We are working with the attorney general's office to review the decision carefully and discuss next steps in an appeal. I will continue to do everything in my power to combat the gun violence epidemic and protect New Yorkers."

New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt called the Concealed Carry Improvement Act a radical gun control law.

He said, “Today’s decision is a victory for the Constitutional rights of all New Yorkers.

“Albany’s political ruling class has repeatedly parroted a false narrative that law-abiding firearm owners are the root of increasing crime in our communities. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is one-party rule that’s made New York less safe with their bail ‘reform’ and other criminal-coddling policies.

“Instead of appealing today’s decision, and continuing their unconstitutional political assault on New Yorkers’ freedoms, the governor and her legislative allies should close the revolving door of violent, repeat offenders they opened with their pro-criminal agenda.”