MSI Goes to the Supreme Court

Inside the United States Supreme Court copy

    On December 21st, 2020, Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari before the Supreme Court of United States in Maryland Shall Issue, Inc et al. v Hogan. Read the petition HERE.

Update 12/29/2020: The Supreme Court has docketed the case. https://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-855.html

    This is our challenge to Maryland's  2018's Senate Bill 707, which criminalizes the mere possession of so-called "rapid-fire trigger activators."  This legislation forced existing lawful owners of the affected devices who purchased these devices long before SB 707 became law to dispossess themselves of this lawfully acquired and lawfully owned property without any sort of compensation. MSI's suit challenged this lack of compensation under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights and under the Maryland Constitution. The Federal district court and Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that this forced dispossession of lawfully acquired private property was not a "Taking" because SB 707 did not require that the items be turned over to the government or third parties.  That's just wrong.  Indeed, the Fourth Circuit's holding is not limited to these devices but is equally applicable to all types of personal property and would thus allow the General Assembly to pass a law ordering the dispossession of any lawfully owned private personal property, all without paying just compensation. The potential for abuse is endless. And we all know from sad experience that if power can be abused, it will be, sooner or later. 

    It will be months before we know whether the case will be heard by the Court.  The State's response is due 30 days from docketing, but the State is likely to seek an extension (they usually do).  We will have an opportunity to file a reply brief to any opposition the State may file.  This case is just one of several in which we are involved defending your rights. Your support makes this litigation possible.  For example, the printing costs alone for just this petition for certiorari were in the thousands of dollars. If certiorari is granted by the Supreme Court, those printing costs will likely triple for the merits briefs and appendix. MSI's President, a DOJ veteran and experienced Supreme Court litigator, donated all his time at no cost to draft this petition, but we also retained outside counsel at the beginning of this case and those costs were substantial. Those litigation costs will continue to accumulate. Litigation and advocacy are not cheap. Don't be a free riderjoin or donate to MSI.


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MSI Bill Tracker - 2024 Maryland General Assembly Regular Session

2023 Gun Bill Tracker Graphic

This tracker follows legislation and lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly. It serves as an easily searchable gun and self-defense-related bill database for supporters of the right to keep and bear arms.

 

For a simpler view of bills MSI has taken a position on, please see the supplementary table below.

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Key:
Red ❌= Oppose
Green ✅= Support
Light Green ✅= Support with Amendment
Blue ℹ️= Informational Testimony Only (provides knowledge for the committee on the bill without taking a position)
Gray = Position Pending or None Taken

Drop this link in your preferred calendar app to subscribe to live updates from the tracker https://bit.ly/3Z67kMq

HOW TO TESTIFY
MSI Guide - Tips For Your Testimony in the Maryland General Assembly

To Sign-up to testify, you MUST make a MyMGA Account!
DO SO HERE


Should you talk to your lawmakers about issues that affect your right to keep and bear arms for self-defense? Absolutely!
Use these links to find the State lawmakers who represent you in the General Assembly and how to contact them. 

Always be civil and speak on how a bill or bills directly affect you.

  1. Emails are ok.
  2. Phone calls are better.
  3. Visits are the best.

Find your representatives HERE
Committee Contacts can be found HERE

 

 

(Tutorial videos sourced from the MGA Website)

House of Delegates Protocols

Senate Witness Guidelines

Sign-up for testimony HERE

Remote testimony is conducted via Zoom. Download it here.

All Committee Testimony Guidelines HERE

Maryland General Assembly YouTube Pages:
Main Page
Senate
Senate Judicial Proceedings
House
House Judiciary
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4

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Maryland Shall Issue® (MSI) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of gun owners' rights in Maryland. It seeks to educate the community about the right of self-protection, the safe handling of firearms, and the responsibility that goes with carrying a firearm in public. MSI is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Maryland Shall Issue®, Inc.
9613 Harford Rd
Ste C #1015
Baltimore, MD 21234-2150

NOTE: Please use  to contact us as we are not always able to answer voice messages.

Phone:  410-849-9197
Email: 
Web:   www.marylandshallissue.org