Last week New York State passed the 2024 budget S4005C/A3005C. In the bill NY State made some changes to the CCIA. In the ban on firearms in houses of worship, the words “religious observation” were omitted from the law. They also added the words “except for those persons responsible for security.”
These changes confirm the fact that the CCIA was overreaching and would not hold up constitutional muster. This minor victory, however, does not mean that the legal battle has been won. This is nothing more than the state trying to throw a wrench in our litigation process of Goldstein v. Hochu and save face.
Individuals throughout the Jewish neighborhoods will still have to choose between running into synagogue for a quick evening prayer and exercising their second amendment right. It is over 194 days since we had our arguments in court and are waiting eagerly for the judge to issue his ruling. We want to stop living in constant fear of carrying our firearms to synagogue and becoming a felon, or taking off the firearm and being vulnerable to an attacker. We look forward to fighting this case all the way until we get a full victory in all matters we raised in this case.