Kramer Levin Files Supreme Court Brief for Faith Leaders and Governing Bodies Supporting State Authority to Enact Reasonable Gun Laws

Kramer Levin has filed a Supreme Court amicus brief supporting reasonable gun legislation on behalf of numerous major religious organizations and faith leaders – including the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, and the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, among others – as well as more than 400 individual clergy and faith leaders from United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA), United Church of Christ, Mennonite, Disciples of Christ, African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Church of God in Christ, Unitarian Universalist, American Baptist, Cooperative Baptist, Jewish, Catholic, multi-denominational, and other faith traditions. The Supreme Court case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, No. 20-843, challenges the constitutionality of a New York law that requires applicants for a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public to show “proper cause” – generally speaking, a bona fide need for self-defense.

The brief addresses the burdens on religious institutions and individuals imposed by the unrestricted ability to carry concealed weapons. Amici argue that concealed weapons disturb prayerfulness and upset the serenity of a worship space, that the prospect of congregants carrying concealed weapons in houses of worship may deter members of the community from joining religious congregations and attending services, and that more mass shootings against religious communities may occur without protection against concealed weapons.  

The brief additionally observes that religious institutions may be forced to implement costly and burdensome security measures (like metal detectors and armed security guards) if New York’s law were invalidated, as well as incur higher insurance costs due to the increased risk of gun violence and liability. Moreover, the occurrence of more mass shootings in houses of worship would likely lead congregants who obtain concealed carry licenses to bring them to religious services, which itself raises the risk of gun violence.

The Kramer Levin team that prepared the brief includes Litigation partner Jeffrey S. Trachtman, special counsel Susan Jacquemot and Jason M. Moff, associates Rachel L. Goot and Martin Ascher, and paralegal Denise L. Reid.  Read the complete brief here.