Bronx man brings gun rights case to Supreme Court

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A former National Guardsmen...

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EFRAIN ALVAREZ, PLAINTIFF IN GUN RIGHTS LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD BY U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING:

"We've got a bullet made already."

Efrain Alvarez is passionate about competitive shooting.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EFRAIN ALVAREZ, PLAINTIFF IN GUN RIGHTS LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD BY U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING:

"It's worldwide."

But as a Bronx resident, there was a catch. Until recently, Alvarez couldn't take his handguns to compete outside of New York City.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EFRAIN ALVAREZ, PLAINTIFF IN GUN RIGHTS LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD BY U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING:

"New York City can't shoot in those matches. So your name is not recognized, your potential is not recognized."

A New York City regulation had limited where licensed gun owners could take their handguns to shooting clubs in the city, and outside the city to hunt only during hunting season.

So Alvarez, along with two other plaintiffs joined up with the NRA's local affiliate to fight a rule they call "draconian."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REUTERS CORRESPONDENT ANDREW CHUNG, SAYING:

"They said that the regulation violated their second amendment right. Lower courts disagreed, ruled against these plaintiffs. That's why they appealed all the way to the Supreme Court."

Reuters Correspondent Andrew Chung says the restriction was put in place as part of the city's effort to regulate deadly weapons in public.

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Monday, and its decision could have a powerful reach.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REUTERS CORRESPONDENT ANDREW CHUNG, SAYING:

"Since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, states across the country have passed hundreds of gun control regulations and laws. Gun safety advocates say that if the Supreme Court makes a broad ruling here, a number of those laws could be put at risk."

Like laws that require background checks, and so-called "red flag" laws that try to keep firearms out of the hands of people at risk of committing violence.

Alvarez says that was never his intent.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EFRAIN ALVAREZ, PLAINTIFF IN GUN RIGHTS LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD BY U.S. SUPREME COURT, SAYING:

"If a bad apple grabs a gun and he does something stupid, it kind of falls on me because I'm part of what's going on."

People on both sides of the argument see the potential for sweeping change, since the court chose to hear the case despite it being over a restriction that effects people in just one city, and despite the city having already amended the rule to allow the travel Alvarez is looking for.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REUTERS CORRESPONDENT ANDREW CHUNG, SAYING:

"That gives observers reason to believe the court is going to use this cast to make a broad statement about gun rights."

Alvarez is currently without his 45 or so firearms -- they were confiscated after he was charged with filing a false report to police, a misdemeanor he received after claiming a handgun had been stolen when it was actually in police custody.

His lawyer says the misdemeanor has nothing to do with the Supreme Court case and won't impact the outcome.