Opinion

New York – Something died last week in Washington.

Not with fanfare or a fiery dissent. Not in the headlines of the mainstream press. No, the death came quietly—during conference—when the Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear Antonyuk v. James. And with that denial, the Court didn’t just reject one more case in the docket. It signaled the burial of Bruen.

Let that sink in.

Bruen, the landmark decision that reaffirmed the Second Amendment’s core protections just two years ago, was gutted—not by a new ruling, but by silence. A shrug. A refusal to act.

It’s hard to describe the sense of betrayal. This was the Court’s chance to stand behind its own precedent, to slap down New York State’s outright defiance of the Constitution. Instead, it sent a message to lower courts and rogue legislatures alike: “Do what you want. We’re done enforcing this.”

What does that mean for gun owners? It means the State of New York can now strip you of your rights with layers of red tape and Orwellian “moral character” tests. It means states can treat the Second Amendment as a second-class right again, just as Justice Thomas warned.

Procedural History Background of Antonyuk v. James

Following the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which invalidated New York’s restrictive concealed carry licensing regime, the state enacted the CCIA to address the Court’s concerns. This new law introduced provisions such as “good moral character” requirements and expanded definitions of “sensitive places” where firearms are prohibited. Plaintiffs challenged the CCIA, leading to Antonyuk v. James.
Duke Center for Firearms Law

Initially, the district court granted a preliminary injunction against certain provisions of the CCIA. However, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated parts of this injunction, allowing most aspects of the law to remain in effect. The plaintiffs then sought review from the Supreme Court. In July 2024, the Supreme Court granted certiorari, vacated the Second Circuit’s judgment, and remanded the case for further consideration in light of its decision in United States v. Rahimi.
Supreme Court,

Upon reconsideration, the Second Circuit reaffirmed its previous stance, upholding the majority of the CCIA’s provisions. The plaintiffs once again petitioned the Supreme Court. On April 7, 2025, the Supreme Court denied this petition for certiorari. 

It means that when a governor like Kathy Hochul rams through a bill designed specifically to undercut a Supreme Court ruling, the Court won’t even bother to take a look.

And maybe worst of all—it shows that the so-called “conservative majority” on the Court is no such thing. The Roberts Court, with its carefully balanced image and obsession with institutional reputation, has abandoned originalism where it matters most: the real world.

So now we’re left with the consequences. The Concealed Carry Improvement Act remains.

Sensitive place bans, good moral character clauses, and other unconstitutional hoops are still in place. And the very idea of a fundamental, unalienable right to armed self-defense—once reaffirmed in Heller, McDonald, and Bruen—is now fading from relevance in the courtroom.

But that right still lives elsewhere.

It lives in the American people. It lives in every citizen who understands that rights don’t come from courts, presidents, or legislatures—they come from God.

If the courts will no longer defend Bruen, then we must. In our voices, in our votes, and in our vigilance.

Because the fight doesn’t end with a denied cert petition. It ends only when we surrender—and we’re not going to do that.

Read my in-depth article on the denial of Antonyuk v. James here: “Bruen Is Dead! SCOTUS Murdered It”.

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