According to the lawsuit, filed on September 13 by two Western New Yorkers, the state’s expansion of sensitive and restricted locations constitutes a “de facto ban on the carriage of loaded, operable handguns for self-defense.”

A new state gun control bill went into effect on September 1 that expanded the number of sensitive and restricted locations where guns could be carried.

Governor Kathy Hochul has stated previously that those sensitive locations include schools, colleges, daycares, restaurants that serve alcohol and more.

The lawsuit alleges that the law essentially creates a no concealed guns default in a variety of public and private spaces.

It also claims that the new law designating sensitive locations goes “far beyond any constitutionally relevant historical justification. It goes on to say the new law makes a mockery of the recent Supreme Court decision.”

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned a New York State law that placed strict restrictions on carrying concealed firearms in public for self defense, finding its requirement that applicants seeking a concealed carry license demonstrate a special need for self-defense is unconstitutional.

The state responded with new legislation that enhanced licensing requirements for concealed carry permit applicants, added new provisions for sensitive areas where the permit holder is prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm, enhanced safe storage requirements to apply if a minor under the age of 18 lives in the home, and made technical changes to the Body Armor Law.

On Wednesday, a U.S. District judge in Syracuse rejected a request by Gun Owners of America Inc. and others for an order to halt the roll-out of the state’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act.

The judge did say the group could amend and refile their request for a preliminary injunction.

New York lawmakers passed the new law this summer after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the state’s previous restrictions on concealed weapons permits.

The new law contains strengthened background checks and firearm safety and live-fire training for individuals seeking to obtain concealed carry permits; prohibits concealed carry permit holders from bringing their firearms into sensitive locations, including Times Square, bars, libraries, schools, government buildings and hospitals, among others; and requires renewal or recertification of permits every three years.

New permitting and minimum age requirements for semi-automatic rifles takes effect this Sunday, September 4. After that date, an individual must be at least 21 years old and have a permit prior to purchasing or taking possession of a semiautomatic rifle. These new requirements were included in a package of legislation in response to the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo this spring. Licenses are not required for individuals who possessed semiautomatic rifles before September 4, 2022.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new Gun Safety Website to provide the public, gun owners, and gun dealers with comprehensive information about all of the new requirements under state law. That site can be found at https://gunsafety.ny.gov/