A federal court has ruled that New York state must reimburse more than $817,000 in legal fees to His Tabernacle Church in Horseheads, which successfully challenged the state’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act. This law, passed in 2022, restricted licensed handgun owners from carrying firearms in designated “sensitive places,” including churches, prompting the church to assert that the law infringed on their constitutional rights.
The court’s decision noted the complexity of the case and the expertise of the legal team, with representations from the First Liberty Institute. Following the ruling, His Tabernacle Church emphasized that their legal battle wasn’t motivated by financial gain, but rather the protection of religious freedoms and community safety amidst increasing concerns over gun laws impacting houses of worship.
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