Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen:

“The Supreme Court’s decision in this case is reckless and ignores the realities our country faces in the 21st Century. The United States is in the midst of a gun violence crisis, and Americans of all political stripes have increasingly called on their elected officials to enact gun safety legislation that will save lives. Today, six unelected Justices issued a ruling that flies in the face of public opinion — and legal precedent. Their decision provides further proof that the Court itself is facing a legitimacy crisis.   

“The Republican-appointed Supreme Court majority continues to issue partisan decisions that undermine the fundamental rights of the American people. Thomas’ radical opinion strikes at the heart of decades of Second Amendment law, expanding the scope of the Second Amendment to our public spaces, increasing the burden on governments acting in the public interest, and asserting that states must prove any regulation ‘is part of the historical tradition.’ Past precedent, including the Supreme Court’s landmark 2008 Heller decision, affirmed the constitutionality of a variety of reasonable gun laws; but the Bruen decision throws that reasoning out the window — asserting that nearly any attempts at gun regulation are invalid.

“The American people are demanding common sense solutions to prevent gun violence in our country, and I won’t let today’s decision change my commitment to delivering for them. The Second Amendment cannot override the fundamental purposes of the Constitution — to ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty. It is not limitless license to purchase, carry, and use firearms of any type whenever or wherever an individual chooses.”

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