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Thursday, Mar 21, 2013 10:01 PM UTC

Pro-gun group files suit over New York’s gun crackdown

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association says Andrew Cuomo's gun law violates Second Amendment protections

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Topics: Andrew Cuomo, New York, Gun Control, Newtown school shooting, Democrats,

Pro-gun group files suit over New York's gun crackdown (Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

As Gov. Andrew Cuomo works to soften the gun law passed in New York in the wake of the Newtown school shootings, the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association has filed a federal lawsuit trying to get the whole thing tossed out.

The NYSRPA, a pro-gun not-for-profit, filed the suit in U.S. District Court on Thursday, arguing that the SAFE Act violates the Second Amendment, as well as laws protecting interstate commerce. “This is an action to vindicate the right of the people of the State of New York to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to keep commonly-possessed firearms in the home for defense of self and family and for other lawful purposes,” the suit says.

“The Supreme Court affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms in the landmark 2008 case of Heller v. District of Columbia and incorporated that decision to the states in the 2010 case of McDonald v. Chicago,” said NYSRPA President Thomas King in a press release. “These decisions apply to all New Yorkers. Attempts to deny our citizens the best and most effective tools available for personal protection cannot be tolerated.”

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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