What Now?: Gun Violence Prevention Policy Options after “Bruen”, “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act”, and the Results of the 2022 Mid-Term Elections

The Temple Sinai Gun Violence Prevention Group hosts a virtual panel discussion with:

Joe Danielsen, New Jersey Assemblyman (D-Middlesex, Somerset), a chief sponsor of New Jersey bill S4769 to require New Jersey gun owners to purchase liability insurance and also “a recreational hunter who supports both the Second Amendment and public safety”
Josh Horwitz, Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Kelly Sampson, Senior Counsel & Director of Racial Justice, Brady Campaign
Dr. Michael Siegel, M.D., M.P.H., Professor, Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, School of Medicine, and author of a new report issued by the new GVP group 97Percent entitled “Finding the Common Ground in Gun Safety”
Rob Wilcox, Federal Legal Director, Everytown for Gun Safety
Steve Klitzman, Chair, Temple Sinai GVP Group, Moderator

Now that the Supreme Court has struck down New York’s “concealed carry” limits on who may carry guns in public (New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen decided on 06/23/2022), state lawmakers there and in other states are reviewing and in some cases strengthening their concealed carry permit laws to deter further gun violence. Justice Clarence Thomas’s majority opinion made clear that the constitutionality of restrictions is historically “settled” in “sensitive places” such as legislatures, courtrooms and polling locations.  “Mmodern regulations” may “prohibit” the carry of firearms in “new” places. Given that, a number of states are enacting a more expansive list of so-called “sensitive places” where guns may not be carried. Though Justice Thomas did not specify which those might be, during oral arguments in November, several justices pondered that they might include public transportation, crowded venues, university campuses and places where alcohol is served.

Moreover, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted in a concurrence joined by Chief Justice John Roberts that while states may not impose restrictions that prevent “ordinary, law abiding citizens” from carrying a gun to defend themselves, states can still enact rigorous requirements for a public carry permit, such as stringent background and mental health records checks and completion of regular training courses.

Another promising reform for states to consider would be to require gun owners to possess firearm liability insurance. Not only would such a requirement ensure that victims of gun violence can recover for their losses and “provide financial incentives for responsible arms carrying,” but it also draws strong historical support from a host of 19th century “surety laws” which Justice Thomas cited in his opinion.  These were laws requiring gun owners to post bond in order to carry a gun.

A distinguished panel of GVP experts will discuss these and other state and local responses to the Bruen decision as well as implementation of the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act enacted in June 2022.  We will also discuss the implications of the results of the 2022 mid-term elections regarding further progress on gun safety reforms on the federal, state and local levels.

For more information please contact Steve Klitzman, Chair, Temple Sinai GVP Group.