Law officials on both sides of the aisle on Supreme Court decision

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — While Republicans are taking today’s supreme court decision as a victory, Democrats think the ruling is deeply disturbing. News10NBC’s Stephanie Duprey has a reaction from both sides of the aisle, as well as the state’s rifle and pistol association, the organization that brought this case to the court.

While Democrats quickly condemned today’s decision, saying it will put the public at risk, Republicans are saying this is a victory for gun rights advocates and for people to be able to protect themselves. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association president, Tom King, says legal gun owners are not committing crimes.

"Why do they think that we’re going to commit the crimes," King said.

King felt victorious after Wednesday’s supreme court ruling. He’s not the only one. Locally, former Gates Police Chief and candidate for Republican Senate James VanBrederode held a press conference, also applauding the court’s decision.

"I’ve been in law enforcement for 37 years I cannot think of one incident where a lawful gun owner went out and did anything violent or shot someone that was not justifiable," VanBrederode said.

King’s organization was at the forefront of a case that was brought to the Supreme Court after the association’s applications for concealed carry handgun licenses for self-defense purposes were rejected.

They challenged it in federal court, arguing that the state law on concealed carry licenses outside the home violated the second amendment. That case was dismissed before the supreme court took it up. The court’s biggest gun rights decision in more than a decade.

"The legislature and the politicians don’t want to admit it they want to blame it on the scapegoat and that scapegoat is the firearm and the gun owners," King added.

Democrats say they’re disappointed and alarmed at the decision.

"This law was over 100 years old, this is not new, what’s new is these three justices on our supreme court who were appointed with a common knowledge that they are pro-gun lobby and anti-choice and that’s now what we’re seeing," Senator Samra Brouk told News10NBC.

New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, who is running against VanBrederode in November’s election, issued a statement saying,
"At a time when our region is experiencing historic levels of gun violence including a hate-inspired mass shooting less than two months ago, I am deeply concerned by the direction the U.S. Supreme court has taken in today’s ruling."