October Term 2021 · Docket 20-843
Does New York require a special reason to carry a gun?
the sides that brought the case seek to strike down a permit requirement. the opposing sides defend the state's public safety rules.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Underwood argued English and American law limited public carrying.
Mr. Clement argued the state fears more firearms in circulation.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
New York law requires a special reason to carry a concealed firearm. the sides that brought the case argue this violates the Second Amendment. the opposing sides argue the state may regulate public safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 33-35
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the permit requirement.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the state's regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the state cannot demand a special reason to carry.
the opposing sides argue the state may restrict carry to protect safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the state can require good moral character.
Justice Sotomayor asked about historical laws conditioning the right to carry.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-23
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of public firearm carrying rights. It balances individual self-defense against state public safety powers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-23
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 119, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 119, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 35-49
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.