Supreme Court Upholds State Gun Control Laws

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review challenges to both Maryland's Handgun Qualification License (HQL) and Delaware's assault weapons ban, which maintain these states' strict gun control laws. Maryland's HQL includes safety training, fingerprinting, and a background check, and is seen as a crucial tool in reducing gun violence by state officials, despite objections from gun rights advocates about its burdensome nature. Similarly, Delaware's law, which bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, is upheld, with proponents citing its effectiveness in reducing gun violence. The decision aligns with recent trends where the Supreme Court has avoided intervening in state-level gun regulations, even as it maintains a conservative majority that has historically favored gun rights. These rulings underscore a judicial preference for respecting state-level gun control measures that are consistent with historical firearm regulations. Despite setbacks, gun rights groups continue to seek avenues for challenging these laws, arguing they infringe on Second Amendment rights.