What did the Supreme Court rule about carrying firearms outside the home in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen?

In the 2022 ruling New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense.12

The Court specifically struck down New York’s concealed carry law, which required applicants to demonstrate "proper cause" or a special need for self-defense to obtain a public-carry license. Writing for the 6–3 majority, Justice Clarence Thomas concluded that this licensing regime was unconstitutional because it prevented law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right.1

The Court determined that the state's restrictions did not sufficiently align with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. While the ruling established that the right to bear arms extends outside the home, it did not invalidate all requirements for gun possession, nor did it address the types of weapons that individuals may lawfully possess.31