The only way to challenge it, is by a fed appeal, after a city, or state criminal conviction. The NRA is not an individual. Want to volunteer?
"sure, its a great idea to give "law abiding" folks the right to carry a gun. how do"
No one gives that right. The right is inherent and is connected with the right to life and the gift of freedom. The right was specifically acknowledged by the founders as being one of those inalienable rights. It is what allows an effective self defense against criminal act, from muggings, to tyranny.
"how do you decide who the "law abiding" folks are?"
LOL! Give me a break. Does felony conviction sound familiar?
"I could get a CCW permit in NYC,
No you can not! Giuliani took that away.
" so could some 18 year old inner city youth gangbanger or MS13 member with no criminal record or reason to otherwise be excluded"
No they can not. One must be 21 anywhere in the country to purchase a handgun. Also, gangs are criminal enterprises, so they are forbidden from possessing firearms. See RICO, and the drugs laws, scan the State laws regarding firearms, and 18USC9xx.
"A cop can't do anything to him for weapons possession, they have to wait until AFTER he commits a crime with that gun."
Same thing the grabbers say about me.
"that's not what people, in an urban environment, expect as a result of policing efforts."
I lived in an urban environment. I know what people think. A great number of them want to be able to defend themselves. They can't, because they're not allowed to. The bliss ninnies are offended when the poor perp bleeds. The cops don't like it, because it cuts in on their inflated egos, and jobs program. Most folks in places like NY, Chicago, LA, simple leave to avoid confrontation with the grabbers. There's absolutely nothing different between urban, suburban, and rural, that justifies grabbing anywhere.
"they want crime thwarted BEFORE it happens,"
That's only possible if folks can defend themselves. That fact doesn't seem to stick in folks minds very well. The grabbers prefer, "we turn the police into "cleanup crews" who simply come in and investigate gun crimes after they occur." don't tell me it's not either, because that's what happens! Now tell me a woman w/o a gun has a chance at fending off a rapist. Tell me most folks can fend off hoods armed with fists, knives, or pipes.
yes, "felony conviction" - so as I said, the crime has to occur FIRST.
fine - you have to be 21 - plenty of 21 year old gang members. and the gang may be criminal enterprise, but how are you going to apply "association" (absent a conviction for something) as an exclusion for a constitutional right? you can't, how do I know who is a member?
you are right, many urban police forces don't work well. and in those situations I agree with you, the choice between an ineffective police force, and broad gun carrying is an easy one - I'll take the gun. But it doesn't always have to be that way, Rudy didn't reduce murders in NYC from 2200+ to 700, by arming 5 million people.