FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen to allow concealed carry on the streets of New York and in the six other states as well as the District of Columbia that have similar laws at issue in the case. National Council of Jewish Women Chief Policy Officer Jody Rabhan issued the following statement in response:

“The Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen is misguided and will jeopardize state and local efforts to enforce and/or enact common sense gun violence prevention laws. It ignores the gun violence epidemic in this country that leaves more than 100 people dead every day due to firearms. It leaves the 19 million people in the state of New York, including the 8 million people in New York City and countless tourists and visitors, vulnerable to gun violence both in the state and beyond. And it opens the door to more people carrying firearms in public, including on public transportation, at playgrounds, in bars and in crowded city centers.

“States with a similar law to what the Supreme Court just struck down — in which people must show proper cause to carry a concealed handgun in public — have some of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country. On the heels of the worst shooting in the history of the New York City subway, in which 10 people were shot and 13 were injured in April; the recent shooting in Harlem that left one person dead and eight injured; and as death due to firearms is on the rise, what we need is fewer guns on our streets, not more. 

“More guns means more violence, plain and simple. Both the pandemic and increased gun sales have been linked to more gun deaths. Meanwhile, frequent mass shootings continue to devastate the country, the threats posed by violent extremism and domestic terrorism are growing, and gun violence in cities is spiking. Now is not the time to deprive communities of their tools to protect all of us from gun violence. National Council of Jewish Women advocates across the country will work with lawmakers in both state legislatures and Congress to enact gun safety measures such as background checks on all gun sales, extreme risk protection orders, and bans on assault weapons and high capacity magazines — and to keep women, children and families safe.”

Media Contact:
Alissa Kaplan Michaels, West End Strategy Team
amichaels@westendstrategy.com, 212.864.5374

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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of 200,000 volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. Through a program of education, community service, and advocacy, our advocates across the country create lasting social change on our key issues of the federal courts; reproductive health, rights, and justice, and voter engagement. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.