Buckeye Institute Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2022 Lisa Gates, Vice President of Communications, (614) 224-3255 U.S. Supreme Court Again Agrees with Arguments Presented by The Buckeye Institute SCOTUS Decision Protects Fundamental Right to Self-Defense Columbus, OH – On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen that New York’s requirement for citizens to demonstrate a “special need” to obtain a license to carry a gun for self-defense violates the U.S. Constitution.   “The Buckeye Institute was proud to argue in its brief that New York’s onerous requirements for obtaining a license to carry a handgun outside of one’s home unacceptably prevented law-abiding Americans from carrying firearms for the purposes of self-defense,” said Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute and a lawyer on the brief. “The rules New York put in place allowed the well-connected and famous to obtain permits to carry firearms for self-defense while simultaneously refusing to grant the same right to ordinary law-abiding citizens in a clear violation of the Second Amendment.”   Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority, “Because the State of New York issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need for self-defense, we conclude that the State’s licensing regime violates the Constitution.”   “The Second Amendment protects the fundamental right of self-defense,” said Larry Obhof, a partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP and counsel of record for The Buckeye Institute in this case. “Yet for far too long, some states have limited that right outside of one’s home. Today the Supreme Court affirmed that your rights do not end at your doorstep, and the Bill of Rights means what it says.” # # # Founded in 1989, The Buckeye Institute is an independent research and educational institution – a think tank – whose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states. The Buckeye Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit, and tax-exempt organization, as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. As such, it relies on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations that share a commitment to individual liberty, free enterprise, personal responsibility, and limited government. The Buckeye Institute does not seek or accept government funding. Donate Today! Support The Buckeye Institute Support The Buckeye Institute by setting us as your designated charity through AmazonSmile. Every time you make a purchase, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the total to The Buckeye Institute at no extra cost to you! AmazonSmile and the AmazonSmile logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌