Fed. Court strikes down MD handgun permiting laws

MARYLAND – A U.S. Circuit Court has struck down a 2013 Maryland law, requiring an additional permitting system for handguns within the state. Known as a Maryland Handgun Qualification license, the process required additional class training, fingerprinting, wait times, and fees to be able to purchase a handgun compared to firearms such as assault rifles or shotguns.

The court found those additional restrictions to be violating the rights of Marylanders and has struck the law down. The state has 21 days to appeal the decision, during which the permits would still be in effect.

Opponents of the law praised the decision, calling the measure an ineffective approach to combating gun violence.

“This law has been in effect for ten years and violent crime is worse. The use of handguns in crime is worse. And the murder rate in Baltimore is among the highest ever. So this law hasn’t worked for ten years,” said Maryland Congressman Andy Harris.

REK Gun Store in Cambridge owner Rob Kramer tells 47 ABC WMDT that most customers who fail the federal background check would have failed the additional steps added by the law. Kramer adds that the additional steps only added a time, financial, and technological barrier to those who would have already qualified.

“If you fail one background you are going to fail the other background,” Kramer said. “It’s a four-hour class, it’s a whole other form we have to fill out, it’s a whole other form the customer has to fill out, and then there is also a seven-day waiting period on top of that per item.”

Kramer says the permitting system also required user-end online verification; something not required for the federal background check, leaving many older people without internet access unable to exercise their rights.

“We live in an area, where a lot of people still don’t have emails, everything’s done online, it’s not fair to them,” Kramer said.

Kramer says the restrictions turned away bewteen 40 and 60 customers a year for his businesses alone, costing him thousands of dollars. With the measure now struck down, Kramer expects better sales.

Opponents, however, say the decision is a setback for gun safety.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said in a statement that “every Marylander has the right to feel safe in their own neighborhood  and I will continue to fight for this law, Our administration is currently looking at all options and reviewing the ruling.”