Update on Mills v. New York City: Oral Arguments Scheduled for tomorrow at the Second Circuit
Foundation for a Safer New York is happy to share a significant milestone in our ongoing lawsuit, Mills v. New York City (SDNY 1:23-cv-07460) (2nd Circuit 24-3308). What was once just a few people on reddit and discord looking to do something beneficial for New Yorkers, has become a lawsuit one step away from the 2nd highest level of courts in the land, and a training platform that we believe emphasizes how much we care about making sure you are educated on the laws and capable of protecting yourselves. We will continue to fight this lawsuit until we’ve expended all the options available, or until we win.
Key information for you:
Oral arguments are tomorrow, 11/18/2025 at 10:00AM
If you would like to listen to them, you can listen below:
Our Classes
The funds from your purchases support our lawsuit and other endeavors such as free classes for those who are struggling with financial hardship, but also want to be able to protect themselves.
How Far We’ve Come
Our journey began with a commitment to address the legal barriers that make it excessively difficult for law-abiding New Yorkers to exercise their Second Amendment rights. In Mills v. New York City, we are contesting several key issues:
Excessive Permitting Fees: The $340 application fee for a firearm permit in New York City, excluding additional fingerprinting costs, creates a financial burden that disproportionately affects residents across socioeconomic backgrounds, effectively pricing many out of their constitutional rights.
Restrictive Regulations: We challenge provisions like 38 RCNY 5-22(a)(7)-(10) and 38 RCNY 5-25, which impose burdensome conditions on firearm licensees, such as limiting the number of handguns that can be carried and requiring written NYPD permission for purchases or replacements.
Acquisition Limitations: NYC Administrative Code 10-302.1(a)-(e) restricts individuals to purchasing no more than one handgun, rifle, or shotgun every 90 days, a limitation we argue lacks historical precedent and violates the Second Amendment.
Despite New York City’s efforts to delay the process, including a successful motion on February 5, 2025, to remove the case from the Second Circuit’s expedited calendar, we’ve remained steadfast. The City’s repeated claims that plaintiffs lack standing, arguing, for instance, that the one-in-90-day purchase limit applies only to dealers and not residents, are, in our view, nonsensical and a stalling tactic. We’ve countered these arguments by emphasizing that these restrictions directly harm NYC residents seeking to exercise their constitutional rights.
Looking Ahead
The support of our community, including contributions to our legal fund and engagement on platforms like r/NYguns, has been instrumental in bringing us to this point. We are grateful for everyone who has supported us thus far, and look forward to continuing our mission after we succeed. As we await the outcome of tomorrow’s arguments, we remain optimistic that the constitution, and our legal system will prove us the victory that New Yorkers and anyone who wishes to protect themselves, deserve.
We will provide a follow-up update after the oral arguments to share insights from the hearing and next steps. In the meantime, you can read our opening brief and the NSSF’s supporting brief on our website, and we encourage supporters to consider donating to help sustain our legal efforts, a portion of which funds free classes for those who cannot afford them.
Together, we are making strides toward a safer and freer New York. Thank you for standing with us.
