THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

A 16-year old San Angelo, Texas boy died from a gunshot wound to the chest suffered when he and other kids were handling a loaded gun. Police are investigating to determine exactly what happened. They have announced that no further information will be released at this time.

Source:

Matt Trammell, “San Angelo Police Confirm Teen Was Killed in Accidental Shooting,” sanangelolive.com (March 18, 2022).

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The Bruen Decision: A Preliminary View of What it Means for Gun Safety

The Supreme Court ruled today, in New York Rifle and Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen, that all "law-abiding" Americans have a right to carry a gun outside the home for self-defense. This will have very serious implications and, as its most near-term consequence, will likely eliminate existing gun license procedures in at least five states.

Perhaps more importantly, SCOTUS reached its decision in a way that broadly modifies the analytical structure that courts will be required to use to evaluate the constitutionality of restrictions on gun ownership -- throwing out the widely used, two part "intermediate scrutiny" test. Under intermediate scrutiny, courts had considered whether the burden on second amendment rights was outweighed by significant government interests such as public safety.

By doing so, the Court eliminates consideration of the potential consequences, including consequences to public safety, of any particular government restriction on the right to own and carry a gun. So, for example, the potential for expanded gun violence associated with a gun law, including gun safety laws, is no longer something courts are allowed to consider in determining whether that gun law is consistent with the Second Amendment.

This means that virtually every element of state gun laws is going to be open to challenge or rechallenge by the gun lobby under a standard that is very highly weighted in favor of overturning regulations that place any conceivable burden on gun ownership.

As a practical matter, more guns in public places means more gun violence. People who carry guns, no matter how “law abiding,” who get into any type of challenging situation are highly likely to use their weapon, sometimes in the mistaken belief that they are engaging in necessary self-defense. In addition, when more guns are carried in public, there is a higher likelihood that they will, for convenience, sometimes be locked in cars or left around the house when brought home, making them vulnerable to theft by criminals or misuse by children and other unauthorized persons. Safe storage laws and compliance with those laws, where they exist, will be more essential than ever.

One legislative response to Bruen is likely to be to create “safe spaces” where firearms are prohibited. Even Justice Thomas concluded that it may be appropriate to ban public carry in “legislative assemblies, polling places and courthouses.” Others might appropriately add, at a minimum, eating establishments that serve alcohol, bars, places of worship, and schools. However, in creating safe spaces, we should be mindful of unintended consequences. When people have to put their guns aside to enter a safe space, they will naturally store them in their cars. Those who choose to engage in public carry will need clear rules about storing their guns to avoid being targeted for theft.

Similarly, legislators should think long and hard about regulating how guns can be carried in public. Guns carried in pockets or waistbands often cause gun accidents. Guns carried in purses and backpacks can also be dangerous or create risk of theft. Laws requiring that guns carried in public be properly holstered with a manual safety engaged would mitigate some of these risks.

Finally, under Bruen, the risks of policing have gone way up. Law enforcement officers will have no way to distinguish people carrying guns lawfully from those carrying them for illicit purposes. Not only does this undermine public safety, it disincentivizes law enforcement from challenging anyone who is carrying a gun.

At the same time, as we saw in countless incidents over the last several years, police may also sometimes shoot armed but innocent people when they feel threatened. As always, this is most likely to occur in communities of color. When more people are carrying, it is reasonable to expect that these incidents will become more frequent. Police departments have little choice other than to continue to rethink their rules for engagement and de-escalation when interacting with members of the public, not just to mitigate their own risks, but also those of the public.

Ultimately, we must continue to prioritize gun safety and to defend laws that do so under the Supreme Court’s new analytical rubric. Our lives depend on it.

Shattered – The Gun Accident Journal

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