Indicted AG Letitia James Touts Court Win on New York Ammo Background Checks

New York Attorney General Letitia James – who is currently under federal indictment – celebrated what she called another “victory” after a judge allowed the state’s ammunition background check law to remain in place.

The Concealed Carry Improvement Act, passed in July 2022 under Governor Kathy Hochul, requires background checks for New Yorkers purchasing ammunition. On Monday, James touted the ruling as proof of her office’s success, declaring:

“Once again, my office has successfully defended New York’s background checks on ammunition sales despite repeated attempts to undermine this commonsense law. Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their community and my office will continue to defend our laws and protect public safety.”

Critics see it differently. The law has faced multiple lawsuits since 2023, spearheaded by the New York State Firearms Association, which argues that the measure punishes law-abiding citizens while doing little to stop criminals.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York denied the group’s injunction attempt in May 2024, but many lawmakers, particularly Republicans, blasted the policy as unconstitutional.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a frequent critic of James and Governor Hochul, has previously called New York’s gun control agenda “an attack on the Second Amendment” and “a direct assault on upstate New Yorkers who hunt, own firearms responsibly, and exercise their rights legally.”

The law’s implementation has also been plagued by complaints of costly delays, technical failures, and confusion at gun shops across the state. Even some Democrats have quietly acknowledged frustration with local county clerks reporting overwhelmed systems and accidental denials for eligible buyers.

James has tried to frame the ruling as a sign of strength amid her ongoing legal troubles. Over the last week she stood on stage at a rally for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and declared defiantly, “I will not bow, I will not break, I will not bend, I will not capitulate. I will not give in. I will not give up.”

Critics say that Monday’s announcement represents yet another example of James focusing on headline victories while New Yorkers deal with the fallout of the policies she protects.

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Indicted AG Letitia James Touts Court Win on New York Ammo Background Checks