In a landmark decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld many of New York’s restrictions on carrying firearms in public places. The ruling allows the state to prohibit gun owners from carrying weapons in “sensitive locations” such as parks, zoos, bars, and theaters. However, the court blocked the enforcement of new restrictions on carrying firearms on private property open to the public.

This is the first time a federal appeals court has ruled on where licensed gun owners can carry firearms since the U.S. Supreme Court expanded gun rights last year. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, welcomed the ruling, stating it would allow the state to continue enforcing most of its new gun-control law.

Gun rights groups celebrated parts of the ruling that deemed some aspects of the law likely unconstitutional. These include a provision that made it a felony to carry a gun on private property open to the public without the owner’s express consent, and a requirement for concealed-carry permit applicants to disclose their social media accounts.

The ruling is a result of legal challenges to the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, signed into law by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in July 2022. The law expanded who could apply for a handgun license but required applicants to demonstrate “good moral character.” It also listed “sensitive locations” where carrying a gun would be a felony, even for license holders.

Despite a lower-court judge declaring much of the law unconstitutional, the three-judge panel reversed these decisions for most of the restrictions, stating they were in line with the country’s history of regulating firearms in crowded areas and public forums.

Read more at Reuters.