Maryland's gun ban

A U.S. District Court judge ruled parts of Maryland's gun control law unconstitutional, specifically allowing gun carry in private property without the owner's permission and near public demonstrations, while upholding restrictions in schools and hospitals. Concurrently, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Maryland's ban on assault weapons, stating such firearms are designed for combat and are not suitable for self-defense, thus falling outside Second Amendment protections. The appeals court's ruling has sparked plans from the Firearms Policy Coalition to challenge the decision at the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting that the ruling contradicts the historical tradition of firearm rights established in prior cases. This legal battle follows the 2022 Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which emphasized the need for historical analogs in gun regulation. The Maryland gun control measures arose after the Sandy Hook shooting and include bans on military-style weapons like the AR-15 and AK-47. As the legal challenges unfold, both sides anticipate that the Supreme Court may ultimately resolve these contentious issues around gun rights.