The Morning Briefing: SCOTUS Stands Up for the Second Amendment

Top O’ the Briefing

Happy Friday, Morning Briefing friends — hang on, we’re one day closer to the weekend! Nate wants to know why a baby can fall asleep with a bottle and it’s cute, but when he does it, he’s an alcoholic.

The big, big, big news of the day was the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, in which the court ruled that citizens do have the right to carry a firearm for self-defense. Paula summarized the ruling in the case, particularly the majority opinion from Justice (and Birthday Boy) Clarence Thomas, this way:

The majority opinion, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, held that New York’s “proper cause” requirement for obtaining a concealed carry license violated the Constitution because it “prevents law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their right to keep and bear arms.”

New York’s restrictions, enacted more than a hundred years ago, required those who wish to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense to show “proper cause” rather than have a presumption of the right to carry. Similar laws exist in Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maryland, and California, where this ruling will have a huge ripple effect.

Democrats are no doubt counting on the ruling to send voters to their side come November, but that’s not likely to happen, as Matt pointed out:

According to a new national survey from The Trafalgar Group in partnership with Convention of States Action, nearly 83% of the American people agree with [Justice] Thomas. 53.5% of voters say the Second Amendment exists to protect self, family, and property. Another 29.2% say it exists to protect against government tyranny. Just 2.6% say it’s to protect hunting rights, while 14.7% say the Second Amendment does not protect any rights they are concerned about.

Our family of sites weighed in with some insights as well. Over at Townhall, Matt Vespa shared what the harpies over at The View had to say about the ruling.

…the show today treated the ruling as if a terrorist attack happened. Ana Navarro called the decision tone-deaf. Sunny Hostin is aghast that we have a right to carry a firearm for self-defense. She’s also appalled that we have a right to own guns. It’s no shock. They’re only recycling Everytown’s anti-gun talking points, but today’s episode was something special—and not in a good way.

And at Bearing Arms, Cam Edwards points out that the Bruen decision potentially has further-reaching consequences.

While the main focus of today’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association was on New York’s “may issue” carry laws, the 6-3 decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas casts doubt on a number of other anti-Second Amendment laws on the books from California to New Jersey, including bans on so-called assault weapons and “large capacity” magazines.

We’ve been on the edge of our seats awaiting some Supreme Court decisions — Dobbs, of course — but this one is a victory both for the Second Amendment and for sending the left into hysterics once again.

Everything Isn’t Awful

“That’s it now, he’s been chosen. He is their hero ❤️ .”

📹: @PubityIG / @ViralHog pic.twitter.com/zTrMGioiVx

— Some Good News (@somegoodnews) June 22, 2022

Falling on Hard Times

New High-End Goth Clothing Line Comes With Cat Hair Already on It https://t.co/nopZ264QYN pic.twitter.com/1FYOywOIxW

— The Hard Times (@REALpunknews) June 23, 2022

Chris’s Cabana

Cabana Gallery

The Florida Highwaymen were a group of black painters and entrepreneurs who created gorgeous paintings and sold them along the roadside in the Sunshine State in the mid-20th century. I wrote about them in my book Neon Crosses, and here’s a sample of their work.

You’ve seen their work, but do you know their name? ☀️ The Highwaymen were a group of Black painters and artists who created some of the most iconic portraits of Florida nature in our history.

Hear their story, and how our sunsets work, right here! 🌿 https://t.co/Bww0YjHI1P pic.twitter.com/vTppfrrNvT

— Wait Five Minutes (@wfmpod) June 16, 2021