The spokesman for the Gun Owners of America explains why this is a huge victory, though he’s not sure how New York officials will retaliate.
Earlier this year, the Gun Owners of America, alongside Newsmax TV host Carl Higbie), filed a lawsuit in the Northern District of New York, believing the state’s blanket ban on out-of-state residents attempting to obtain a concealed carry permit was unfair. As a result, the New York Police Department (NYPD) have responded in a surprising manner.
Per this release, the department has applied an emergency rule that will now allow non-residents from outside the state to apply for Concealed Carry (or Constitutional-Carry) permits.
Erich Pratt, who serves as Senior Vice President for the Gun Owners of America, noted, “This is great news for the untold millions of Americans who either work or visit New York every year. It’s critical that everyone can exercise their inherent right to self-defense, but until now, anti-gunners in New York denied most Americans that basic right.
“We will continue to monitor local cases to ensure that NYPD indeed grants these permits to applicants in a timely and non-onerous manner. Otherwise, we will gladly file another lawsuit directed specifically at Mayor Adams and the NYPD.”
It’s unknown just how New York officials will respond to this, but many gun advocates and groups see this as a big win.
Stephen Willeford, who serves as the spokesman for the Gun Owners of America, joins us now to discuss this matter further. We welcome him to the show!
Q&A:
- What are your thoughts on this crucial victory? Did the New York Police Department have much of a choice when it came to this emergency rule?
- Do you believe applications for Constitutional-Carry (or Concealed Carry) will increase as a result of this? Or could other states’ laws potentially get in the way?
- How do you think New York officials will respond to the implementation of this emergency rule? Is it possible they may try to block it?
- Could other states possibly allow for the filing of similar permits as well, if this proves to be successful?
- You have an event coming up this weekend called G.O.A.L.S., or the Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit. Tell us more about it.
- You can visit the official website at https://goals.gunowners.org/.
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at jerry@specialguests.com.
