SCOTUS Moots NYSRPA vs New York City

In what appears to be a surprise move, the U.S. Supreme Court today issued a ruling "Mooting" the New York Rifle and Pistol Association vs New York City case.  Cam Edwards over at Bearingarms.com has the report.

A divided Supreme Court declared on Monday that a Second Amendment challenge to a New York City gun law was made moot by the city and state’s last minute move to change the law in question. The 6-3 ruling saw Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh siding with the liberal wing of the court, while Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch dissented from the opinion, arguing that the decision “permits our docket to be manipulated in a way that should not be countenanced.”

Cam went on to detail what Kavanaugh wrote in a concuring opinion:

And I share JUSTICE ALITO’s concern that some federal and state courts may not be properly applying Heller and McDonald. The Court should address that issue soon, perhaps in one of the several Second Amendment cases with petitions for certiorari now pending before the Court.

Many had penned their hopes on this case as the first step in putting some teeth into Heller and McDonald, as Justice Justice Alito rightly states in his descent that many lower courts are simply ignoring.  VSSA joined in an amicus brief supporting our sister organization in this case.

There are a number of cases still pending before the court, including challenges to New Jersey and Maryland’s concealed carry laws requiring applicants to show “good cause” before they can be approved.  We will now have to wait and see which, if any, of those cases the Court decides to take.

Today's action by the Court illustrates how important it is to re-elect President Trump.  It is clear we still need at least one, if not two additional justices with an originalist view of the Constitution on the Court.