A federal judge on Thursday denied the District of Columbia's request for an immediate administrative stay on a ruling declaring part of the city's gun carry law unconstitutional.
In a ruling issued on May 18th, Judge Frederick J. Scullin said the District’s requirement that applicants for a gun carry permit demonstrate a "good reason" to carry a gun violated the Second Amendment. The DC Attorney General's Office filed a request on May 26 for an immediate administrative stay in order to avoid issuing permits to those denied under the "good reason" clause while they filed an appeal.
Thurday's order rejects that request and schedules a July 7 hearing on whether to grant a long-term stay pending the city's appeal of the May 18 decision.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) praised Judge Scullin's decision.
"The Second Amendment Foundation is pleased that the court ruled immediately against the city and has forced them to start issuing carry permits," SAF founder Alan Gottlieb said. "By now they should realize that when we say we will do everything in our legal power to force them to recognize that people have Second Amendment rights we mean it."
The District of Columbia's Office of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to request for comment.