FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022   ■   *TOP STORY

Parties Move to Dismiss Maryland Carry Ban Lawsuit After New York’s Defeat in Bruen

RICHMOND, VA – Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that, because of Maryland Governor Hogan’s concession and order to cease the state’s utilization of its ‘good and substantial reason’ carry permit standard, the parties have filed a joint motion to dismiss the Call v. Jones litigation as moot. Case documents can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“Both the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, as well as the Governor’s response, render this case moot,” the parties say in the motion. “By concluding that New York’s discretionary scheme violated the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court’s decision, in effect, thereby also invalidated laws that had ‘analog[ous]’ schemes, including that embodied in Maryland’s ‘good and substantial reason’ requirement. Governor Hogan’s executive action affirmed this conclusion and formalized the State’s intent to comply with Bruen.”

“Make no mistake, although called a dismissal, this is a massive win for all Marylanders, and demonstrates exactly how Bruen will have far reaching effects across the country,” said FPC’s Senior Attorney for Constitutional Litigation Cody J. Wisniewski. “It is encouraging that Mayland has accepted defeat in this instance, but FPC will remain vigilant to ensure that the Old Line State fully complies with both the letter and spirit of not just the Bruen opinion, but the Second Amendment writ large.”

With the conclusion of this case, FPC will now move forward with litigation to ensure that all Maryland residents and visitors can exercise all of their right to keep and bear arms without severe burdens and delays. This litigation includes Bianchi v. Frosh, which challenges the state’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” and was recently sent back to the Fourth Circuit by the Supreme Court to be reheard in light of Bruen. Supplemental briefing in Bianchi will take place throughout the summer, with oral arguments tentatively scheduled for December.

Individuals who would like to Join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutionally protected rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. FPC Law (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s first and largest public interest legal team focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the leader in the Second Amendment litigation and research space.

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