Manhattan Federal Court Judge John Koeltl [above] has ruled that The Big Apple’s $340 gun permit fee—payable every three years for the “right” to keep a gun in your home—does not violate islanders’ right to keep and bear arms. “There is no evidence that the fee has deterred or is likely to deter any individual from exercising his or her Second Amendment right.” According to the nydailynews.com, Judge Koeltl’s ruling relied on the fact that courts have approved significantly higher fees for other city permits, citing a ruling that permitted a $3,000 adult business license fee. ‘Cause exercising a constitutional right to armed self-defense is the same as opening a porn palace (which pays extra taxes because . . . ?) And the gun permit fee costs the same as New York City’s voter registration permit fee. Oh wait . . . At least someone’s happy about the ruling . . .
“Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo said the decision ‘upholds our ability to conduct meaningful checks into applicants’ qualifications—which requires far more time, expense and hassle (for the applicant) than the ten-second FBI background check that gun stores use to screen customers, and helps keep as many people as possible from obtaining firearms as possible.”
Just kidding. I made that up, up to the bit with the triple dashes. Obviously.