New York Backs Down on Social Media Requirement in Concealed Carry Law

In a small but meaningful victory for gun owners, New York has agreed to stop enforcing one of the more controversial provisions of its post-Bruen concealed carry law. A new settlement filed in federal court in Antonyuk v. James prevents the state from enforcing its requirement that concealed carry applicants disclose their social media history—at least for the plaintiffs involved in the case.

What the Settlement Does

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) Has run and implemented a host of new gun control laws

Under the agreement, New York will no longer require applicants to provide a list of their social media accounts from the past three years as part of the concealed carry licensing process. The state has also agreed to remove this requirement from its official permit application forms.

This provision was originally included in the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA)—a sweeping law passed in 2022 in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which struck down New York’s previous carry permitting scheme.

While the state did not admit the requirement was unconstitutional, it agreed to stop enforcing it rather than continue defending it in court.

A Partial Victory — Not the End of the Fight

This settlement represents a clear step back from one of the more invasive aspects of the CCIA, but it is far from a complete victory. The majority of the law remains intact, including expansive “sensitive location” bans, restrictions on carrying in places like public transportation, parks, and businesses serving alcohol. It also still has a complex licensing requirements that continue to burden applicants The broader legal challenge to these provisions is still ongoing and will continue to move through the federal courts.

A Pattern of Retreat

This is not the first time New York has backed off parts of the CCIA when faced with legal pressure. After courts pushed back on the state’s near-total ban on firearms in places of worship, lawmakers quietly amended the law to allow certain individuals—such as designated security personnel—to carry.

Now, with the social media requirement effectively sidelined, it’s clear that even aggressive gun control measures are not immune from constitutional scrutiny.

Why This Matters

The social media disclosure requirement raised serious concerns from the start. Requiring citizens to hand over years of online activity as a condition of exercising a constitutional right is not only invasive—it opens the door to subjective government judgment about speech, beliefs, and associations.

At its core, this was about more than gun rights. It was about whether the government can condition a constitutional right on personal surveillance.

The Bigger Picture

New York’s CCIA has become a model for other anti-gun states like New Jersey, California, Maryland, and Hawaii—many of which passed similar laws after the Bruen decision. That means the outcome of these legal battles will have nationwide implications.

The Supreme Court has so far declined to step in directly on New York’s law, but that could change soon. A pending decision in Wolford v. Lopez, a case out of Hawaii dealing with similar restrictions, may provide much-needed clarity on how far states can go in limiting lawful carry.

A Warning for Minnesota and Beyond

At 2 If By Sea Tactical, we’re watching these developments closely—especially as similar ideas continue to surface in states like Minnesota.

The social media requirement is a perfect example of how far some lawmakers are willing to go to restrict lawful gun ownership. While New York has taken a step back here, the broader strategy remains the same: add layers of bureaucracy, surveillance, and restrictions to make exercising your rights as difficult as possible.

This case shows that pushing back works—but it also shows that the fight is far from over. Because once these policies are introduced, they don’t stay contained to one state for long.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.