On Thursday, the US Supreme Court ruled that American citizens have the fundamental right to carry arms in public. This comes at a time when gun violence has become the main culprit behind children's deaths in the US. 

The 6-3 ruling knocks over a New York law that requires any person to prove they have legitimate self-defense needs to have a gun permit; the ruling will also prevent states from restricting people who carry guns.

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The law almost made no regard for two deadly mass shootings in May - the Uvalde and Buffalo mass shootings - which sparked protests and waves of grief and devastation. The Supreme court nonetheless sided with advocates that argued for the right to bear arms.

The ruling constitutes a victory for the National Rifle Association (NRA), and it is the first by the Supreme Court in a major Second Amendment case in 10 years.

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"Today's ruling is a watershed win for good men and women all across America and is the result of a decades-long fight the NRA has led," NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said in a statement. "The right to self-defense and to defend your family and loved ones should not end at your home."

More than half of all US states allow citizens to carry firearms without permits - more than 20 states still maintain restrictions, which they may be forced to abandon with the Supreme Court's new ruling. 

Over the past 20 years, over 200 million guns have circulated the US arms market, mainly assault rifles and personal handguns - all behind murders, mass shootings, and suicide. 

The US Senate has also been working on a bipartisan framework that would tackle mass shootings. 

Biden "deeply disappointed"

President Joe Biden said Thursday he is "deeply disappointed" with a Supreme Court ruling that expands the right to carry firearms in public across the United States.  

"I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court's ruling," he said in a statement. "This ruling contradicts both common sense and the constitution, and should deeply trouble us all."

New York governor calls Supreme Court gun ruling 'dark day'

New York's governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday that a Supreme Court ruling striking down a New York gun law was a "dark day".

"Shocking, absolutely shocking, that they have taken away our rights to have reasonable restrictions," she told reporters.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) says she is “prepared to call the legislature back into session” in response to the Supreme Court striking down the state's concealed carry law:

“We’re not going to cede our rights that easily, despite the best efforts of the politicized Supreme Court.” pic.twitter.com/HoIhrRwT0P

— The Recount (@therecount) June 23, 2022

"We can have restrictions on speech -- you can't yell fire in a crowded theater but somehow there's no restrictions allowed on the Second Amendment," she said, referring to the constitutional amendment allowing Americans the right to bear arms.

"I'm sorry this dark day has come," she added.

Hochul later tweeted that the ruling was "outrageous", accusing the six judges of acting "recklessly".

It is outrageous that at a moment of national reckoning on gun violence, the Supreme Court has recklessly struck down a New York law that limits those who can carry concealed weapons.

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 23, 2022

"In response to this ruling, we are closely reviewing our options -- including calling a special session of the legislature."

"Just as we swiftly passed nation-leading gun reform legislation, I will continue to do everything in my power to keep New Yorkers safe from gun violence," she wrote.

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