The Supreme Court has decided not to hear a challenge to a Maryland law that prohibits certain semi-automatic firearms commonly known as assault weapons. The court's denial on Monday did not come with any further explanation, which is standard procedure. It would have been unusual for the justices to take up the case at this stage, as a lower court is still reviewing it. The Supreme Court is also currently considering an appeal regarding a similar law in Illinois, but no action was taken on that case on Monday.
The plaintiffs in the Maryland case, which include gun rights groups, argued that banning semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 infringes upon the Second Amendment, especially following a significant Supreme Court decision in 2022 that expanded gun rights. This ruling altered the criteria for assessing the constitutionality of gun laws and has had a significant impact on gun legislation across the country.
Maryland's attorney general defended the ban by pointing to mass shootings involving these types of weapons, arguing that they are highly dangerous and have military-style features. The law, which was enacted after the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, prohibits dozens of firearms classified as assault weapons and imposes a 10-round limit on gun magazines.
The Supreme Court had previously declined to hear a challenge to the Maryland law in 2017, but following the 2022 ruling and the current conservative majority on the court, the case was revisited. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is currently reviewing the case, with Maryland urging the lower court to issue a decision before any potential Supreme Court action. The plaintiffs have expressed concerns about the delay in the appeals court process, including the unusual decision to have the case heard by the full circuit court instead of a three-judge panel.
According to the gun-control group Brady, ten states and the District of Columbia have laws similar to Maryland's assault weapons ban. The ongoing legal battles surrounding these laws highlight the complex and contentious nature of gun control legislation in the United States.
