Vice President Kamala Harris weighed in on the Supreme Court of the United States decision to strike down New York’s restrictions on concealed carry firearms permits and uphold the Second Amendment, saying that the ruling contradicted both commonsense as well as the U.S. Constitution.
On Thursday, The Daily Wire reported that the court ruled 6-3 in favor of gun rights in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen. Thursday’s decision is the widest expansion of gun rights in more than a decade, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In reaction, Kamala Harris tweeted, “Today’s Supreme Court ruling on guns is deeply troubling as it defies commonsense and the Constitution. Lives are at stake.”
“Congress should pass the bipartisan gun safety proposal immediately and continue to do more to protect our communities,” she added.
Harris’ comments echoed President Joe Biden’s reaction to the decision.
Thursday morning, Biden released a statement saying that he was “deeply disappointed” in the court for its decision in the case.
“This ruling contradicts both common sense and the Constitution, and should deeply trouble us all,” he added.
Biden concluded by calling “Americans across the country to make their voices heard on gun safety.”
“Lives are on the line,” he warned.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion and argued that New York’s requirement that citizens must demonstrate a need for concealed carry was unconstitutional.
“We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need. That is not how the First Amendment works when it comes to unpopular speech or the free exercise of religion,” Thomas wrote. “It is not how the Sixth Amendment works when it comes to a defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him. And it is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense.”
The court also found that the law violated the 14th amendment.
“New York’s proper-cause requirement violates the Fourteenth Amendment in that it prevents law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms,” Thomas wrote.
While Harris may have thought the decision was in defiance of the Constitution, others praised the ruling.
House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) tweeted, “The Supreme Court makes it clear: Stripping law-abiding citizens of their 2nd Amendment rights is unconstitutional. Big win for freedom!”
Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-WI), added, “The right to keep and bear arms is an inalienable right. Thi #SCOTUS decision upholds that truth and signals to all gun-grabbing Leftists that the rights of law-abiding citizens will NOT be infringed upon.”
As explained by Fox News’ Shannon Bream — an attorney and journalist — Today’s #SCOTUSopinion does NOT mean people can simply start carrying guns wherever/whenever they want. States can still require licenses/permits, but the criteria for getting them must be objective.”
Tim Pearce contributed to this story.
