The Supreme Court Thursday ruled 6-3 that New York’s regulations that made it difficult to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun were unconstitutionally restrictive and that it should be easier to obtain such a license, Fox News reported.

The existing standard required an applicant to show “proper cause” for seeking a license and allowed New York officials to take it upon themselves to determine whether a person has shown a good enough reason for needing to carry a firearm. In the past, simply stating that one wished to protect themselves or their property was not enough which is a complete violation of the United States Constitution as “self-defense” is more than sufficient a reason.

“In this case, petitioners and respondents agree that ordinary, law-abiding citizens have a similar right to carry handguns publicly for their self-defense. We too agree, and now hold, consistent with Heller and McDonald, that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the Court’s opinion. “Because the State of New York issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need for self-defense, we conclude that the State’s licensing regime violates the Constitution.”

It’s been over 10 years since a major gun rights case has been brought before the Supreme Court, and throughout the case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, it became evident that the court’s conservative justices would most certainly rule against the state.

During arguments, Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked, “Why isn’t it good enough to say I live in a violent area and I want to defend myself?”

Big win for 2A today in NY State, and a restriction that the Supreme Court should have done away with years ago. Better late than never, I suppose.