Opinion

New York –

Antonyuk v. James isn’t just another court case. It’s the most important Second Amendment battle since Bruen (2022), and the way the Supreme Court just shrugged it off should set every freedom-loving American’s blood boiling.

Let’s back up. In Bruen, the Supreme Court knocked down New York’s century-old “proper cause” requirement for carry permits. That decision affirmed what we already knew: your right to armed self-defense doesn’t stop at your front door. It follows you wherever you go.

But New York didn’t like that answer. Instead of complying, the state rewrote its handgun law in 2022 with “amendments” designed to look compliant but in reality doing the same thing as before: keeping law-abiding citizens disarmed in public. Governor Kathy Hochul and Albany lawmakers swapped “proper cause” for vague new hoops like “good moral character” and blanketed the state with “sensitive places” where carry permits are useless. In plain English: they gave SCOTUS the middle finger.

That’s where Antonyuk v. James comes in—a direct challenge to Hochul’s unconstitutional games. The case worked its way up to SCOTUS. But this April, the Roberts Court denied review without comment.

No explanation. No fiery dissents from Thomas or Alito. Just silence.

The Top Court’s Inaction Is Dangerous

Where does this leave us? In limbo. The case now sits with the Second Circuit, and New York keeps enforcing its anti-carry regime like Bruen never happened.

Meanwhile, the media has stayed quiet, acting like Antonyuk doesn’t even matter. Left-leaning outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post didn’t cover the denial. They’re thrilled that Hochul’s laws remain in effect. Most gun rights groups have barely raised their voices either.

But make no mistake: Antonyuk isn’t just about New York. If Hochul gets away with this, other anti-gun states will copy her playbook—pretend compliance while continuing to strangle your rights.

And if SCOTUS keeps dodging these cases, the Court’s landmark rulings in Heller, McDonald, and Bruen will become meaningless words on paper.

State “Police Power” vs. Your Rights

Here’s the crux of the issue. New York claims its “police power” gives it the authority to regulate carry rights however it wants. But the Supreme Court has said repeatedly that state power stops where constitutional rights begin.

The Second Amendment isn’t a permission slip from the government—it’s a natural right that predates government itself. The states didn’t grant it, and they have no authority to take it away. When licensing schemes and “sensitive place” bans turn a fundamental right into a privilege, they’re unconstitutional.

And let’s be honest: New York isn’t even holding up its end of the bargain. The state has failed to protect its citizens from violent crime, especially in places like New York City. Police are understaffed, predators roam free, and law-abiding residents are left defenseless. Hochul refuses to provide real public safety while making it nearly impossible for New Yorkers to provide for their own personal safety.

Here’s a hard truth the media won’t tell you: police have no legal obligation to protect individual citizens. If someone attacks you on the street and the cops don’t show up, you can’t sue them. That’s why the right to carry isn’t just important—it’s essential.

SCOTUS Needs to Step Up

So why didn’t SCOTUS take the case? Maybe Roberts and the liberal wing of the Court want to avoid controversy. Maybe even some Trump-appointed justices lack the stomach to take on a fight this big. Whatever the reason, their refusal to act sends a dangerous message: states can ignore the Supreme Court’s rulings without consequence.

This isn’t how the system is supposed to work. The Supreme Court is the final backstop for protecting individual rights. If it won’t enforce its own decisions, then where does that leave us?

The Bottom Line

A right delayed is a right denied. Every day the Court stays silent, New Yorkers are forced to navigate an unconstitutional maze just to exercise their basic right to self-defense.

The Roberts Court’s inaction undermines Bruen and invites states to keep pushing the envelope. Freedom-loving Americans should be outraged.

If the Court won’t stand up for us, then we must stand up for ourselves—by demanding accountability from our leaders, supporting the few justices who do defend the Constitution, and refusing to accept second-class treatment of our most sacred right.

We cannot allow this to become the new normal.

About The Arbalest Quarrel:

Arbalest Group created `The Arbalest Quarrel’ website for a special purpose. That purpose is to educate the American public about recent Federal and State firearms control legislation. No other website, to our knowledge, provides as deep an analysis or as thorough an analysis. Arbalest Group offers this information free.

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