The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has vowed to sue the New York Police Department in an effort to defend former President Donald Trump’s concealed carry license after his felony conviction in the hush money trial. Alan M. Gottlieb, the founder and Executive Vice President of SAF, stated that they are willing to challenge the law to defend Trump’s ownership of firearms, and would offer to defend him if he faced further prosecution for owning firearms. Despite New York state law mandating that convicted felons are not allowed to have firearm permits, SAF believes that individuals should not lose their gun rights due to a conviction of a non-violent crime.
Trump’s concealed carry license was initially revoked in April 2023 when he was indicted for the hush money trial in New York. Gottlieb argued that Trump should not lose his Second Amendment rights as he has no history of violent crime. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen ruling, which requires gun laws to have a historical connection to regulation at the time of the Constitution and Bill of Rights’ drafting, as a reason for Trump’s rights being protected. The potential revocation of Trump’s gun license by the NYPD has highlighted the need for reform in gun rights legislation, according to Gottlieb, and until changes are made, SAF is prepared to take legal action to fight for individuals’ gun rights.
Gottlieb highlighted SAF’s experience in pursuing gun rights cases, with 60 cases currently in progress and wins that have reached the U.S. Supreme Court. He stated that the foundation’s motto is “Winning Gun Rights One Lawsuit at a Time,” and that they are committed to protecting and winning Trump’s gun rights. SAF believes that the attack on Trump’s gun rights underscores the need for a review of existing gun control laws and a reform to better protect individuals’ rights. The group is prepared to challenge laws that they believe unfairly restrict access to firearms, and they are willing to go to court against New York State or the federal government to defend those rights.
The New York Police Department’s preparation to revoke Trump’s gun license has sparked a conversation around the implications of gun rights legislation and the potential impact on convicted felons. SAF argues that Trump’s non-violent conviction should not result in the revocation of his Second Amendment rights, citing his lack of history in violent crime. The foundation’s stance is that the connection between historical regulation at the time of the Founders’ writing the Constitution and Bill of Rights should be considered when evaluating gun rights restrictions. The promise to defend Trump in court and challenge laws that threaten citizens’ gun rights is a part of SAF’s commitment to advocating for Second Amendment protections.
As the number of new gun owners has surged since the 2020 election, reports indicate that there is a growing interest in firearm ownership and advocacy for Second Amendment rights. SAF’s pledge to defend Trump’s gun rights in the face of his felony conviction reflects their dedication to protecting individuals’ rights to firearms ownership. The potential lawsuit against the NYPD could set a precedent in legal battles over gun rights and further advocate for the reform of existing gun control laws to better safeguard citizens’ Second Amendment rights.
