VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY IN THE COURTS: Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Maryland Law Keeping Guns Out of Parks, School Grounds, Bars and Other Sensitive Places

MARYLAND – In a victory for gun safety, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling today broadly upholding Maryland’s law prohibiting guns in sensitive places, largely rejecting an extreme challenge brought by Maryland’s affiliate of the NRA. The Fourth Circuit’s decision further confirms that common sense gun safety policies regulating the presence of firearms in sensitive places are constitutional.

“Today’s decision marks another major victory for public safety and a stinging defeat for the gun lobby. By upholding Maryland’s sensitive places law, the Fourth Circuit has joined a growing judicial consensus that it’s constitutional to protect our communities from the particular dangers guns present in locations like parks, school grounds, public transit systems, and bars,” said Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law. “It’s time for gun extremists to recognize that their efforts to undermine these life-saving protections are as futile as they are reckless.”

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action called on their elected officials to pass legislation that would address the new dangers to gun safety resulting from that decision. Gun-sense legislators in Maryland took action and enacted legislation that strengthens the standards and requirements for obtaining a concealed-carry permit in Maryland. They also established a list of locations where guns cannot be carried, including bars and restaurants where alcohol is served; government buildings; public transit;  schools, colleges and universities; public demonstrations; state parks and forests; museums and healthcare facilities; stadiums, racetracks, amusement parks, and casinos. Gun-lobby groups and individuals immediately challenged the law. 

The Fourth Circuit’s decision ruled unconstitutional only one aspect of the law, which makes carrying guns on private property held open to the public unlawful unless the property owner gives their consent. That issue is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in Wolford v. Lopez.