The New York statute violated Equal Protection (something Democrats have opposed since 1836). The statute allowed firearm possession outside the house provided that the petitioner had a good enough reason. In other words, the right to possess a firearm became subjective, with the State being the arbiter of who was allowed to exercise that right.
Due Process was also violated since the subjective decision of the State could prohibit the exercise of a citizen even though all the rules were followed.
