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Supreme Court Makes It Harder to Keep Guns Out of Public Spaces

LWV Press Release | Published on 6/23/2022
The US Supreme Court ruled 6 – 3 in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that New York’s 100-year-old law restricting certain individuals from carrying concealed weapons in public places is unconstitutional, effectively weakening gun safety laws around the country.

The League of Women Voters of the United States, along with the Leagues of Women Voters of New York and Florida, represented by Cooley LLP, filed an amicus brief in support of New York’s law requiring New Yorkers to show proper cause before carrying concealed weapons in public places, including polling places. The Leagues argued that the presence of guns in polling places would intimidate voters from casting their ballots and demonstrated in their brief how the threat of violence has been used to prevent political participation — especially in communities of color.