The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment has changed significantly over the last 20 years. Rulings in cases like DC v. Heller in 2008 and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen in 2022 recast the "right to bear arms" in a new legal framework that makes it more challenging to create effective firearm regulations. On a new episode of Policy Outsider, we speak with a New York State legislator and a political science scholar about constitutional originalism—the theory underlying aspects of these rulings—and the practical considerations of legislating in the complex legal environment created by the Court's decisions. Our guests are New York State Assemblymember for the 13th District Charles D. Lavine and Robert J. Spitzer, a distinguished service professor emeritus in the Political Science Department at SUNY Cortland and a member of the Rockefeller Institute's Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium. Listen Now...
From the public’s perspective, the consequences of a federal shutdown are often masked by our system of federalism. But, while any federal shutdown is potentially significant from a state and local perspective, the dynamics of the 2025 shutdown should be considered particularly worrisome for states and localities.Continue Reading...
With so many individuals observing warning signs of impending gun violence, how can we better leverage existing reporting systems to strengthen mass shooting prevention efforts? The latest blog from our gun violence research team shares findings from their recent study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice.Continue Reading...
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About the Rockefeller Institute of Government
The Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. The Institute conducts cutting-edge research and analysis to inform lasting solutions to the problems facing New York State and the nation.
