Supreme Court to hear case challenging restrictions on gun permits

The issue of restricting gun permits is set to be argued at the US Supreme Court next Wednesday in a case from New York state, where two men who were rejected for permits are taking their complaint to the high court.

In 2016 and 2018, respectively, Robert Nash and Brandon Koch had their requests for unrestricted concealed carry licenses rejected by New York state trial court judge Justice Richard McNally Jr.

In his ruling, Justice McNally cited a 1913 New York law that requires concealed-carry applicants to prove that they have a legitimate need for such a permit; Nash and Koch simply wanted the permit for self-defense.

According to Reuters, Justice McNally defended his use of the law, arguing that it "was intended to grant broad discretion to the local licensing officers," and that it "takes into consideration geography and other factors" when deciding whose applications get accepted or rejected.