Appeals Court Backs Attorney General James in Ongoing Legal Challenge to Concealed Carry Improvement Act
(WNY News Now) – NEW YORK – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has upheld New York’s law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases, affirming a lower court’s decision to deny a preliminary injunction sought by the New York State Firearms Association and several individuals.
The ruling, issued in New York State Firearms Association v. James, supports the state’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA), which was enacted in July 2022. The law mandates that individuals pass a background check before buying ammunition, part of a broader effort to enhance gun safety measures in New York.
Attorney General Letitia James praised the decision, stating, “Once again, my office has successfully defended New York’s background checks on ammunition sales despite repeated attempts to undermine this commonsense law. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their community, and my office will continue to defend our laws and protect public safety.”
The legal challenge originated in September 2023, when the New York State Firearms Association and four residents filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of the background check requirement. They argued that the law violated Second Amendment rights. In May 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York ruled in favor of the state, concluding that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits.
The Second Circuit’s decision affirms that ruling, allowing New York to continue enforcing background checks on ammunition sales while the case proceeds.
The CCIA was passed following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which struck down parts of the state’s concealed carry law. In response, state lawmakers enacted new measures aimed at strengthening gun safety and ensuring thorough vetting of firearm and ammunition buyers.
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