The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York handgun-licensing law that required New Yorkers who want to carry a handgun in public to show a special need to defend themselves.
The 6-3 ruling, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, made clear that the Second Amendment guarantees the right “to keep and bear arms” protects a broad right to carry a handgun outside of the home for self-defense, adding that courts should uphold gun restrictions only if there is a tradition of such regulation in U.S. history.
This comes as the U.S. Senate reached an agreement on the gun-safety legislation, that if passed, would be the first federal gun-control legislation in 30 years, and would require tougher background checks for buyers under 21 years old, among other things.