Rhode Island Gun Permit Rules Survive Constitutional Review (1)

Rhode Island’s rules for obtaining a discretionary permit to carry a firearm didn’t violate the Second Amendment or due process, a federal court said.

Applying the permitting structure to the plaintiffs was “relevantly similar” to historical firearms regulations and thus didn’t violate the Second Amendment, Judge William E. Smith said Aug. 1 for the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Nor is the process vague or overbroad in violation of the 14th Amendment, he said, granting the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on two counts.

The US Supreme Court first recognized the individual right to bear arms ...