Supreme Court turns down challenge to N.Y. concealed-carry law

The law limits who can legally carry a gun on the streets. Justices leave in doubt whether people have a 2nd Amendment right to carry a firearm in public.

By David G. Savage, Washington Bureau, LA Times
10:44 PM PDT, April 15, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court left in doubt Monday whether gun owners have a 2nd Amendment right to carry a firearm in public.

Without a comment or dissent, the justices turned down a gun-rights challenge to a New York law that strictly limits who can legally carry a weapon when they are on the streets. To obtain a "concealed carry" permit, New Yorkers must convince a county official that they have a "special need for protection" that goes beyond living or working in a high-crime area.

Only about one-tenth of 1% of New Yorkers have concealed-carry permits, compared to more than 6% in the neighboring states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, the court was told.

Several gun owners who were denied a "concealed carry" permit sued, arguing they had a 2nd Amendment right to carry a gun for self-defense.

(More here.)