New York's Gun Control Law Has Been (Mostly) Upheld

New York's SAFE Act, introduced in January after the Sandy Hook shootings and among the most restrictive in the country, has been ruled constitutional by a federal judge. Sorry, NRA.

New York's SAFE Act, introduced in January after the Sandy Hook shootings and among the most restrictive in the country, has been ruled constitutional by a federal judge. Sorry, NRA.

New York was the first state to enact gun legislation in response to the Sandy Hook shootings. The SAFE Act banned assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and loading a weapon with more than seven rounds.

In March, the state's NRA chapter sued New York, saying the law violated the second amendment. It asked for a hearing in November, with the chapter's president Tom King saying "When you are able to stand in front of someone and verbalize the case, it becomes abundantly clear how ridiculous some of these things are."

Judge William M. Skretny didn't agree, and ruled that the law was non-ridiculous, constitutional and would remain in effect except for the seven round limit, which he called "arbitrary." As for the rest:

The Court finds that the challenged provisions of the SAFE Act, including the Act’s definition and regulation of assault weapons and its ban on high-capacity magazines, further the state’s important interest in public safety and do not impermissibly infringe on Plaintiff’s Second Amendment rights.

For gun control advocates, this should be a bright spot on which to end an otherwise dark year, when more laws were passed that loosen gun regulations than tightened them.

The NRA is expected to appeal the ruling.