Federal Court judge shoots down pro-gun group's lawsuit

A pro-gun groups lawsuit seeking to undermine the citys strict gun control laws has been shot down by a Manhattan Federal Court judge.

The NRA-affiliated New York State Pistol and Rifle Association sued the city in 2013, arguing that laws limiting certain licensed handgun owners to carrying their unloaded weapons directly to or from their homes and shooting ranges infringed on their Second Amendment rights.

Judge Robert Sweet said he wasnt buying it last week in a 43-page ruling.

These regulations are reasonable and result from the substantial government interest in public safety, Sweet wrote, citing previous rulings that outside the home, firearms safety interests often outweigh individual interests in self-defense.

The gun group had argued the small number of shooting ranges only eight in the city amounted to a gun ban. Sweet countered that the paucity of gun ranges was simply the free market at work.

There are over 40,000 active handgun licenses in the city, according to court documents.

We are pleased that the city was able to defeat this challenge to our common-sense gun laws that are designed to keep us all safe, said Mayor de Blasios spokeswoman, Marti Adams.

Sweet called the restrictions a minimal, or at most, modest burden on Second Amendment rights. He said the NYPD processes 3,200 new applications and 9,000 renewal applications for handgun licenses yearly. The gun association did not respond or comment.

sbrown@nydailynews.com

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Federal Court judge shoots down pro-gun group's lawsuit