The attorneys general of 16 states have joined together in filing a “friend of the court” brief in a lawsuit arguing that Washington, D.C.’s concealed-carry permit system—which requires applicants to show “good reason” to be issued a permit—is unconstitutional.
As the brief points out, 42 states currently have either unrestricted or “shall-issue” Right-to-Carry systems and, as Arizona Assistant Solicitor General Keith Miller put it, “over half the population has lived in states where non-discriminatory licensed carry laws are norm.”
The suit arose after D.C. authorities denied a carry permit to Matthew Grace because he didn’t “demonstrate a proper reason” to be issued a permit—despite the fact that Grace’s wife had been robbed on the street and despite Utah and Virginia having already issued permits to Grace. In May, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction rejecting that standard, and now oral arguments in the appeal of that case—Grace v. District of Columbia—are scheduled for Sept. 20.
