US Supreme Court strikes down New York gun law

High court's ruling was handed down in spite of recent series of mass shootings

The US Supreme Court struck down a restrictive New York gun law in a victory for gun rights advocates. AFP

The US Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a New York state law putting limits on carrying concealed handguns in public, in a victory for gun rights advocates as the country reels from deadly mass shootings.

The 6-3 ruling, with all conservative justices in the majority, ruled that the state's law breached a person's Second Amendment right to "possess and carry” firearms in cases of self-defence “outside the home”.

President Joe Biden said he was "deeply disappointed" in the ruling and that it "should deeply trouble us all".

"In the wake of the horrific attacks in Buffalo and Uvalde, as well as the daily acts of gun violence that do not make national headlines, we must do more as a society — not less — to protect our fellow Americans," Mr Biden said.

The justices overturned a lower-court ruling throwing out a challenge to the law by two gun owners and the New York affiliate of the National Rifle Association, an influential gun rights group closely aligned with conservatives.

“Petitioners Brandon Koch and Robert Nash are adult, law-abiding New York residents who both applied for unrestricted licences to carry a handgun in public based on their generalised interest in self-defence,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote.

The New York law, first passed in 1913, said a person must have a “proper cause” to apply for a concealed carry licence.

California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey have similar laws that could now be challenged.

Vice President Kamala Harris said the Supreme Court's ruling "defies logic" after the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde.

The high court's decision leaves Congress to reckon with how to properly address gun violence.

"It is outrageous that, at a moment of national reckoning on gun violence, the Supreme Court has recklessly struck down a New York law that limits those who can carry concealed weapons," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Ms Hochul said the state was reviewing its options in response to the ruling, including calling a special session of the state legislature.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city was prepared to "lead by example" in responding to the Supreme Court's decision.

In delivering the court's minority opinion, liberal Justice Stephen Breyer gave the Buffalo and Uvalde massacres as recent examples of rising gun violence in the country.

“Many states have tried to address some of the dangers of gun violence just described by passing laws that limit, in various ways, who may purchase, carry, or use firearms of different kinds. The court today severely burdens states’ efforts to do so,” he wrote.

In response to Mr Breyer's dissent, Justice Samuel Alito cast doubt on the idea that concealed carry laws would prevent mass shootings such as the one in Buffalo.

"The New York law at issue in this case obviously did not stop that perpetrator," Mr Alito wrote.

Texas elementary school shooting — in pictures

Alanna De Leon writes the name of her friend, Annabelle Rodriguez, who died in the shooting. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. AP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A memorial in Town Square, Uvalde, Texas, for victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting. Reuters

A woman places a rose on Layla Salazar’s memorial cross, who was one of the victims that died in the shooting. Reuters

Bags with brisket sandwiches and a snack that will be sold at a fundraiser for families of the victims. Reuters

Ashtyn Leigh, 18, hands a man a brisket meal. Reuters

A choir sings in front of the memorial. Reuters

People pray in front of memorial crosses. Reuters

Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the shooting. AFP

People visit a memorial for the victims. AFP

Flowers are left outside the school. AFP

Twenty-one empty chairs are seen outside of a daycare center as a memorial for the victims. AP Photo

Football teammates of Tess Mata, who died in the Texas school shooting, cry as they visit a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. AFP

A football teammate of shooting victim Tess Mata cries, supported by her mother. AFP

Texas police faced angry questions over why it took an hour to stop the gunman who murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, as video emerged of desperate parents begging officers to storm the school. AFP

Activists join Senate Democrats outside the Capitol, in Washington, to demand action on gun control legislation after the killings at the Texas elementary school this week. AP

The George R Brown Convention Centre, site of the National Rifle Association annual convention. Days after the deadliest mass school shooting in Texas history, the gun lobbyist group is meeting in Houston, from Friday until Sunday. Reuters

Pastor Carlos Contreras preaches to his congregation as photos of some of the children killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary flash on the screen at Primera Iglesia Bautista, in Uvalde. Reuters

People march after a vigil held to stand with the Uvalde families and demand an end to gun violence in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

A woman holds up a banner at the end of the vigil in Newtown, Connecticut. AP

Newtown was the scene of the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 pupils and six teachers were killed by a gunman. AP

Candles are lit for each victim as people pray at St Philip's Episcopal Church. EPA

A makeshift memorial in front of Robb Elementary School. AFP

Omahar Padillo with his son Omahar Jr, 12, during a community prayer, in Pharr, Texas, for the shooting victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

Omahar Padillo Jr, 12, and his sister Samantha, 9, with their mother, Silvia Padillo, write messages in support of the victims at Robb Elementary School. AP

A vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. AFP

A young mourner at the vigil in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Families at the vigil. AFP

A woman holds a photo of Nevaeh Bravo, who was killed in the mass shooting, during a vigil for the victims of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco is comforted by Senator Ted Cruz during a vigil at the Uvalde County Fairplex Arena. AP

Diana Karau of Uvalde with a therapy dog named Tritan before a vigil to honour those killed at Robb Elementary. AP

Gun-control advocates Dana Cibulski, left, and Judi Giannini attend a vigil outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

Uziyah Garcia, 8, was among those killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. AP

Pastor Jaime Cabralez, the uncle of shooting victim 10-year-old Eliahana Cruz Torres, is surrounded in prayer at his church in Uvalde, Texas on Wednesday. Reuters

A woman embraces a child outside Willie de Leon Civic Centre, in Uvalde, where pupils were taken after the school shooting. Bloomberg

Gun-control advocates hold a vigil outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

A woman and child leave the Civic Centre. Reuters

Members of Congress on Thursday were rushing to pass the first gun-control legislation in decades.

The bipartisan deal would support “red flag” laws, keeping firearms away from people who could do harm to themselves or others.

But the bill would not raise the minimum age to buy automatic assault weapons to 21 from 18.

The teenage gunmen in Buffalo and Uvalde both used assault-style rifles.

Agencies contributed to this report