Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/20-843_7j80.pdf
Page Number: 10.0

4  NEW YORK STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASSN., INC. v. BRUEN 

Opinion of the Court 

City  Police  Department’s  requirement  of  “ ‘extraordinary
personal danger, documented by proof of recurrent threats
to life or safety’ ” (quoting 38 N. Y. C. R. R. §5–03(b))). 

When a licensing officer denies an application, judicial re-
view is limited.  New York courts defer to an officer’s appli-
cation of the proper-cause standard unless it is “arbitrary
and  capricious.”    In re  Bando,  290  App.  Div.  2d  691,  692, 
735 N. Y. S. 2d 660, 661 (2002).  In other words, the decision 
“must be upheld if the record shows a rational basis for it.” 
Kaplan, 249 App. Div. 2d, at 201, 673 N. Y. S. 2d, at 68.  The 
rule leaves applicants little recourse if their local licensing 
officer denies a permit.

New  York  is  not  alone  in  requiring  a  permit  to  carry  a 
handgun in public.  But the vast majority of States—43 by 
our count—are “shall issue” jurisdictions, where authorities 
must  issue  concealed-carry  licenses  whenever  applicants
satisfy certain threshold requirements, without granting li-
censing officials discretion to deny licenses based on a per-
ceived  lack  of  need  or  suitability.1    Meanwhile,  only  six 
—————— 

1 See  Ala.  Code  §13A–11–75  (Cum.  Supp.  2021);  Alaska  Stat.
§18.65.700  (2020);  Ariz.  Rev.  Stat.  Ann.  §13–3112  (Cum.  Supp.  2021); 
Ark.  Code  Ann.  §5–73–309  (Supp.  2021);  Colo.  Rev.  Stat.  §18–12–206 
(2021);  Fla.  Stat.  §790.06  (2021);  Ga.  Code  Ann.  §16–11–129  (Supp. 
2021); Idaho Code Ann. §18–3302K (Cum. Supp. 2021); Ill. Comp. Stat., 
ch. 430, §66/10 (West Cum. Supp. 2021); Ind. Code §35–47–2–3 (2021);
Iowa Code §724.7 (2022); Kan. Stat. Ann. §75–7c03 (2021); Ky. Rev. Stat. 
Ann. §237.110 (Lexis Cum. Supp. 2021); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §40:1379.3
(West Cum. Supp. 2022); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 25, §2003 (Cum. Supp.
2022); Mich. Comp. Laws §28.425b (2020); Minn. Stat. §624.714 (2020); 
Miss. Code Ann. §45–9–101 (2022); Mo. Rev. Stat. §571.101 (2016); Mont. 
Code Ann. §45–8–321 (2021); Neb. Rev. Stat. §69–2430 (2019); Nev. Rev. 
Stat. §202.3657 (2021); N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §159:6 (Cum. Supp. 2021); 
N. M.  Stat.  Ann.  §29–19–4  (2018);  N. C.  Gen.  Stat.  Ann.  §14–415.11 
(2021); N. D. Cent. Code Ann. §62.1–04–03 (Supp. 2021); Ohio Rev. Code 
Ann.  §2923.125  (2020);  Okla.  Stat.,  Tit.  21,  §1290.12  (2021);  Ore.  Rev. 
Stat. §166.291 (2021); 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. §6109 (Cum. Supp. 2016); S. C. 
Code Ann. §23–31–215(A) (Cum. Supp. 2021); S. D. Codified Laws §23–
7–7 (Cum. Supp. 2021); Tenn. Code Ann. §39–17–1366 (Supp. 2021); Tex. 
Govt. Code Ann. §411.177 (West Cum. Supp. 2021); Utah Code §53–5–