August 4, 2014: Last week, New York legislators filed Respondents’ Brief in the Second Circuit, addressing arguments made by the plaintiffs that the NY Safe Act violates the Second Amendment. The brief, submitted by Assistant Solicitor General Claude S. Platton, argues that the “assault weapons” and large-capacity magazines regulated by the Safe Act are not within the core protections of the Second Amendment, and that even if the challenged provisions of the Safe Act warrant a heightened degree of scrutiny, the restrictions provided in the Act still pass constitutional muster. The brief also appeals the decision of the District Court to strike down three provisions of the Safe Act, including the provision providing for a seven-round load limit. A copy of the brief can be found here.