For years, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association President Tom King watched his group's legal challenge to the state's concealed carry law slowly wind its way through the courts. On Thursday, he could declare victory.
"The Supreme Court has re-established the Second Amendment the way our founding fathers meant it when they wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," King said in an interview.
Supporters of gun ownership and firearms rights in upstate New York are celebrating the ruling — calling it an important step for public safety. King's organization played a key role in the development of the lawsuit as one of its plaintiffs challenging the century-old law that placed strict limits on how guns can be carried outside of the home.
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, based just outside of Albany in Rensselaer County, has more frequently been on the losing end of legislative action at the state Capitol.
Only weeks ago, Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul reached a package of agreements that will require licenses in order to possess a semiautomatic rifle, raising the age of possessing one from 18 to 21 in the process.
The Thursday ruling knocked down one of New York's oldest gun laws on the books. King called the ruling an important one for New Yorkers who want to protect themselves on the street, but faced limits under the concealed carry law's requirements.
"If criminals understand that more people have firearms and are maybe carrying firearms, I think they're going to be less likely to attack them on the streets," King said.
The ruling is yet another touchstone in the cultural debate over the role of firearms in society as the nation's politics are facing sustained polarization. Within New York itself, gun culture can vary from upstate to downstate.
King acknowledges there can be something of a divide between upstate and downstate New Yorkers over the issue.
"They rely on the police department for their protection where people upstate just are a little more independent, know how to protect themselves if someone is breaking into their home or threatening them," he said.
Gun owners and firearms dealers, meanwhile, are also processing the ruling. Upstate Guns and Ammo owner Craig Serafini said the strict requirements for being able to carry and conceal a gun didn't make sense. He compared it to being licensed to drive a car, but only being able to use it in a driveway.
"If somebody is going to be trusted with that permit, then somebody is going to be trusted with that permit to operate within its limitations," he said.
But at the same time, Serafini does not expect an uptick in firearms sales as a result of the ruling.
"I do feel that people by and large are fairly comfortable with the concept of firearms," he said. "Obviously people don't want anything negative to happen, but I do feel that people are very strongly in favor of firearms."
New York lawmakers in the coming weeks are expected to consider measures meant to respond to the Supreme Court ruling. Legislation could set limits on gun possession around areas like arenas and mass transit; gun rights advocates are expected to challenge those provisions in court as well.