A ruling Tuesday by a federal appeals court will make it easier for Maryland residents to obtain a handgun. The issue has been stuck in court for seven years after the pro-Second Amendment group Maryland Shall Issue challenged the law. The U.S. Court of Appeals has declared a training provision in Maryland law unconstitutional. PDF: Read the decision Mark Pennak, president of the Maryland Shall Issue, called the decision a victory for common sense. “These requirements have acted as a barrier to the exercise of a constitutional right for thousands, tens of thousands of people,” Pennak told 11 News. Under the Maryland Firearm Safety Act of 2013, training requirements included submitting fingerprints, background checks, participating in a four-hour gun safety training course, and shooting at least one live bullet. Then, applicants had to wait 30 days for approval before beginning the rest of the licensing process. “So the purpose of this measure is to discourage people from exercising their constitutional right to acquire a handgun,” Pennak said. How the law was passed: Find out what led to the law’s passage and the debate that followed, click here. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson sent a statement to 11 News, saying, “Today’s decision is crazy. Every responsible gun owner supports basic firearms training and keeping firearms out of reach. People 11 News spoke with said there should be more regulation, not less. “I think it should be harder to get a handgun,” said Alison Dasch, of Baltimore. “They should do more background checks.” “I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. I actually think it should be even harder to get a gun because there are always loopholes when people get them, and you see what they’re thinking right now “We’re inundated with handguns, especially in the city,” said Sadie Faqua of Baltimore. “I think to make it even easier, it’s just not going to be good for society, for this nation. I think it’s really sad.” Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued a statement saying in part: “I am disappointed in the 4th Circuit Court’s decision. This law is not intended to take away the rights of responsible gun owners. This is about the right of every Marylander to live without fear…Our administration is currently reviewing all options and reviewing the decision.” has two weeks to request a hearing before the full 4th Circuit Court, and it could also ask the Supreme Court to review the decision. It’s not immediately clear whether state lawmakers will revisit the issue when the General Assembly meets in January. Mayor Brandon Scott released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying : “I am incredibly frustrated and disappointed by today’s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. At a time when the proliferation of guns threatens the safety of our communities, we should be more, not less, pay attention to who has access to these tools of violence. The decision to eliminate common-sense background checks and gun safety training allows people who should not be able to to buy these weapons to do so and threatens the safety of our communities. » U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, released a statement: “This decision by the Fourth Circuit is another disastrous consequence of the Supreme Court’s absurd new standard that current gun laws must match those of centuries ago. This is a deeply flawed decision that will make Marylanders less safe. The Supreme Court must reconsider the ridiculous precedent it set last year, overturn the Fourth Circuit’s decision, and end this dangerous backward trend. »
A ruling Tuesday by a federal appeals court will make it easier for Maryland residents to obtain a handgun.
The case remained in court for seven years after the pro-Second Amendment group, Maryland Shall Issue, challenged the law.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has declared a training provision in Maryland law unconstitutional.
| PDF: Read the decision
Mark Pennak, president of the Maryland Shall Issue, called the decision a victory for common sense.
“These requirements have been a barrier to the exercise of a constitutional right for thousands, if not tens of thousands of people,” Pennak told 11 News.
Under the Maryland Gun Safety Act of 2013, training requirements included submitting fingerprints, running a background check, completing a four-hour gun safety training course fire and the firing of at least one live bullet. Then, applicants had to wait 30 days for approval before beginning the rest of the licensing process.
“So the idea is to discourage people from exercising their constitutional right to acquire a handgun,” Pennak said.
- How the law was passed: To see what led to the law’s passage and the debate that followed, tap here.
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson sent a statement to 11 News, saying, “Today’s decision is crazy. Every responsible gun owner supports basic firearms training and keeps guns out of the hands of criminals. This decision will unequivocally lead to more gun and gun-related violence. death.”
People 11 News spoke with said there should be more regulation, not less.
“I think it should be harder to get a handgun,” said Alison Dasch of Baltimore. “They should do more background checks.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. In fact, I think it should be even harder to get a gun because there are always loopholes when people get them, and you see what they do with it. It makes things bad for the community,” said Rodney Lych of Baltimore.
“I think right now we’re inundated with handguns, especially in the city,” said Sadie Faqua, of Baltimore. “I think to make it even easier, it’s just not going to be good for society, for this nation. I think it’s really sad.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued a statement saying in part: “I am disappointed by the Fourth Circuit Court’s decision. This law is not intended to take away the rights of responsible gun owners. It’s about ensuring that every Marylander has the right to live without fear. … Our administration is currently reviewing all options and reviewing the decision.”
The state has two weeks to request a hearing before the full 4th Circuit Court, and it could also ask the Supreme Court to review the decision.
It was not immediately clear whether state lawmakers would revisit the issue when the General Assembly meets in January.
Mayor Brandon Scott released a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, “I am incredibly frustrated and disappointed by today’s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. At a time when the proliferation of guns threatens the safety of our communities, we should be more “And above all, pay attention to who has access to these tools of violence. The decision to eliminate background checks based on voucher meaning and gun safety training allows people who should not be able to purchase these guns to do so and threatens the safety of our communities.”
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, released a statement saying, “This Fourth Circuit decision is yet another disastrous consequence of the Supreme Court’s absurd new standard that current gun laws must match to those of centuries ago. a deeply flawed decision that will make Marylanders less safe. The Supreme Court must reconsider the ridiculous precedent it set last year, overturn the Fourth Circuit’s decision, and end this dangerous backward trend.
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