There are six states with constitutions that don’t explicitly protect the right of the people to keep and bear arms. The last state to add such a protection was Wisconsin, in 1998. The last stage of the process to amend the Badger State’s founding document was via a referendum and it passed with an overwhelming 74% of the vote. The sorry six that still lack enshrinement of the RKBA are listed below. And it won’t surprise you that these states are some of the least supportive of gun ownership and Second Amendment rights…
New York: Dominated by New York City politics, New York has often taken the lead in introducing and passing egregiously restrictive gun laws. The first significant one was in 1911, the infamous Sullivan Act, ostensibly designed to fight organized crime. The latest is the so called “SAFE Act” passed with out debate in the middle of the night. New York is ranked 50th by Guns & Ammo and gets an A- on the most recent Brady Campaign scorecard.
New Jersey: Garden State gun laws start with the premise that everything to do with guns is illegal. The state then tells you under what very restrictive conditions you may own, shoot, transport, or — for a tiny group, mostly judges and retired police officers — carry a gun. New Jersey is ranked 49th by G&A, A- on the Brady scorecard.
California: California has a long and distinguished history of legislation designed to keep minorities disarmed. The Golden State is the only state in recent years to (mostly) ban the open carry of firearms and is ranked 47th by G&A with another A- by the Brady Center.
by Dean Weingarten
