Gun-rights advocates have advanced two significant challenges to Maryland’s gun-control law, prompting the Supreme Court to potentially reevaluate firearm regulations in light of recent precedent. These challenges are a direct result of the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which emphasized that any laws restricting the right to bear arms must align with the historical traditions of the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.
Maryland’s gun-control legislation, enacted in 2013 post the Sandy Hook shooting, is under scrutiny for its assault weapons ban, including AR-15s, and a handgun licensing system. The first challenge scrutinizes the state’s assault weapons ban, arguing it violates the Second Amendment by banning weapons widely recognized as common firearms for lawful use. The federal district court previously rejected this challenge, a decision that was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, declaring that military-style weapons do not fall under fundamental rights of ownership. However, after the Bruen decision, the Supreme Court remanded this decision for further consideration under the newly established test.
The second challenge voices opposition to the handgun licensing requirement, arguing it’s redundant given the state’s background check process for gun purchases. The challengers criticized the licensure system as unnecessarily burdensome and intrusive. Although the federal court upheld the license requirement, indicating its conformity with public safety objectives, the case has now reached the Supreme Court on appeal, again probing the applicability of the Bruen decision.
The cases, Snope v. Brown and Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. v. Moore, present the Supreme Court with an opportunity to offer further clarification on the Bruen-mandated standards for gun regulation, potentially impacting a broad array of state-level firearm laws. Maryland maintains a defense of its current legal regime, arguing the appeals are premature and asserting that state regulations align with a longstanding tradition of firearm regulation.
The questions looming in these cases represent significant challenges both to Maryland’s legislative framework and the broader national discourse on gun rights in the United States. The Supreme Court’s rulings could redefine the regulatory landscape for state-imposed gun control measures.
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