Columbus, OH – On Wednesday, The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Antonyuk v. James on behalf of Project 21, a national network of black political, civic, and business leaders. In its brief, The Buckeye Institute calls on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and argues that New York’s Conceal Carry Improvement Act violates the constitutional right of the citizens of New York, particularly black New Yorkers, to keep and bear arms.

“For decades, black Americans and other minorities were the targets of firearms regulations that prevented them from exercising their constitutional right to bear arms,” said David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute and the counsel of record on the brief. “New York’s Conceal Carry Improvement Act is little more than a continuation of these discriminatory 19th century laws.”

In New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, the U.S. Supreme Court clearly told New York that it was unconstitutional to deny people their Second Amendment rights by forcing citizens to prove they have a “special need” before they could obtain a license to carry a firearm. In its brief, The Buckeye Institute shows that New York has simply substituted “special need” with “essential character” to deny members of disfavored groups their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

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