Petition filed in the Maryland handgun licensing case

MARYLAND – A Maryland law requiring licenses to purchase a handgun is at the heart of debate in Annapolis.

This comes after the law was struck down by the Fourth Circuit Court. A petition has been filed for a hearing in the Maryland handgun licensing case, something a local gun shop says negatively impacts business. “It’s more money for my customers and it’s more of an inconvenience for my customers. Another thing I’ve seen with Maryland is everything is done online,” said Rob Kramer.

The law being petitioned would require most citizens to obtain a license before acquiring a handgun. Rek Firearms owner Rob Kramer says everyone should have the power to exercise their rights.
However, with this law, Kramer says it makes it more difficult to obtain.

He would like to see Maryland operate in a simpler way. “I would like to see Maryland get out of the gun business and basically just go back to the standard NICS form. NICS background check, it’s pretty most of the states in the United States it’s standard procedure for them and it simplifies a whole lot for everyone,” said Kramer.

Executive Director Karen Herren with Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence feels differently. She tells us the law should remain in place. “This issue really is at the core of what democracy is, what freedom is, none of us are free when gun violence numbers are at the rate they are today so we have to figure out how to legally put guardrails on this amendment,” said Herren.

Herren says without these laws the state just falls apart and the data proves that. “Our state is still much better off than those states with weaker gun laws and our licensing standards are one of the primary drivers of those safety numbers,” Herren said.

The petition would put the case back in front of the 15-judge appellate court. Depending on that vote, the case could potentially go to the Supreme Court.