On May 15, 2025, Congresswomen Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate New York State’s gun laws, which they claim violate the Second Amendment. This action is significant for New York gun owners and Second Amendment supporters who view the state’s regulations as overly restrictive.
Importance for New York Gun Owners and Second Amendment Supporters
New York’s gun laws include bans on certain semiautomatic rifles, mandatory licensing and registration, and magazine capacity limits. Stefanik and Tenney argue that these rules conflict with U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). These rulings confirm the individual right to bear arms and require gun laws to align with historical traditions.
For gun owners in New York, the state’s regulations create challenges, such as complex licensing processes and legal risks for possessing firearms or accessories that are legal elsewhere. The letter states that these laws burden law-abiding citizens without effectively reducing crime. A DOJ investigation could lead to changes, potentially easing restrictions and aligning state laws with constitutional standards.
Second Amendment supporters see this as a broader fight against state overreach. The DOJ’s Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force may review New York’s laws, which could influence gun regulations in other states with similar policies.