In Maryland, obtaining a handgun will now be easier for residents. On Tuesday, Nov. 21, a federal appeals court struck down part of the Maryland Firearm Safety Act of 2013.
The law requires Maryland residents to complete a four-hour firearm safety training course, fire at least one live round, submit fingerprints, pass a background check and then wait 30 days for their application to be approved to purchase a handgun.
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In a 2-1 decision, the three-judge panel of Virginia’s Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the law to be unconstitutional, saying it violates the right to “keep and bear arms” and “restricts the ability of law-abiding adult citizens to possess handguns.”
“If you live in Maryland and you want a handgun, you must follow a long and winding path to get one,” Judge Richardson wrote in the majority opinion.
The panel cited the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which declared gun laws had to be “consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
The majority opinion states that the Maryland law fails the new Bruen test, as the state “has not established that the law is consistent with our nation’s historical tradition.”
Groups and leaders are responding to the court’s reversal.
“We are pleased to announce that the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has just ruled that Maryland’s handgun qualification license requirement is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment,” Maryland Shall Issue, a plaintiff in the case and non-profit organization, wrote on X.
However, not everyone is on board with the court’s decision.
“I am disappointed in the Fourth Circuit Court’s decision.” Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement “This law is not about stripping away rights from responsible gun owners — it’s about every Marylander having the right to live free from fear.”
Moore said his administration will continue to fight for the law, and it is currently looking at all options and reviewing the ruling.
This decision doesn’t change other Maryland gun laws in place. Residents will still be required to pass a background check and there is still a seven-day waiting period in place before customers can purchase a gun.
