Everytown Responds to Reports That Justice Stephen Breyer Will Retire

Everytown for Gun Safety, and Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown’s grassroots networks, released the following statements in response to reports that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will retire at the end of this term:

“Justice Breyer has stood up for gun safety throughout his tenure on the court,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “President Biden’s nominee to replace Justice Breyer should also understand that the Second Amendment is fully consistent with common sense gun safety laws.” 

“The gun violence prevention movement is grateful for Justice Breyer’s distinguished career and understanding that reasonable gun safety laws are constitutional,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “We look forward to President Biden nominating a Black woman to continue this legacy, and we will mobilize our grassroots army of volunteers to ensure the Senate swiftly confirms them.”

Justice Breyer has long defended the constitutionality of gun safety measures from the bench. At oral argument in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, a case which the Supreme Court heard this past November and is yet to rule on, he noted that areas with more lax gun carry laws see higher rates of gun violence. Furthermore, he authored key dissenting opinions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago, setting forth his view of why the Second Amendment was not incompatible with the gun regulations at issue in those cases.