The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] on Tuesday rejected [text, PDF] a DC legal restriction that required an applicant to have “good reason to fear for their person or property” in order to acquire a concealed carry permit. The law was blocked by a 2-1 vote. The opinion stated that the “good reason” law is equivalent to a total ban on an enumerated right. According to the decision, “the Second Amendment’s core lies the right of responsible citizens to carry firearms for personal self-defense beyond the home, subject to longstanding restrictions.” The court remanded the case with the instructions to order a permanent injunction on the law.

Gun ownership and carry rights have become an increasingly prevalent issue. In June Kansas Governor Sam Brownback allowed a bill [JURIST report] that permits public hospitals, mental health facilities and other health-providing facilities to ban concealed weapons, to become law on without his signature.In April Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation [JURIST report] expanding gun rights in the state. Earlier that week, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law [JURIST report] a bill allowing individuals over the age of 21 to get enhanced concealed carry permits which will allow them to carry concealed weapons at public colleges, airports, polling places, sporting events, some state offices and the state capitol.