Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., its members and Atlantic Guns were represented in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Richmond, VA) on the morning of May 6th via teleconference, appealing the lower court's dismissal of the Maryland Handgun Qualification License lawsuit on standing grounds.
MSI and it's members consider the HQL requirement (and it's provisions, such as one live round, fees, fingerprinting, etc.) an egregious infringement upon the rights of Marylanders to acquire the means to their own defense.
Please consider supporting MSI's and its all volunteer membership's efforts, on your behalf, by joining and/or donating to our shared cause.
Listen to the official oral argument recording of Maryland Shall Issue, inc. v Lawrence Hogan (19-1469) HERE
Find your representatives HERE
Committee Contacts can be found HERE
NEW FOR 2020 - All Committee Testimony Guidelines HERE
MSI Guide - Tips For Your Testimony in the Maryland General Assembly
Share our tracker with this link:
https://tinyurl.com/guns2020
Whalen v Handgun Permit Review Board
In the continued fight to promote and defend the right of armed defense that belongs to every responsible, law-abiding Marylander, Maryland Shall Issue is representing MSI member, Holmes Whalen, in an appellate brief filed on July 22, 2019, with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (Maryland's intermediate level appellate court). Mr. Whalen was arbitrarily denied a permit by the State Police and that denial was sustained by the Handgun Permit Review Board and by the Baltimore City Circuit Court.
The appeal challenges the constitutionality of the "good and substantial reason" standard the state uses to deny Maryland citizens the ability to protect themselves in public. The appeal also asks the Court of Special Appeals to overrule its outdated precedent (Snowden and Scherr) on which the State Police and the Handgun Permit Review Board erroneously continue to rely. This case may establish important new precedent in Maryland by making clear the right of self-defense applies to all "the people" protected by the Second Amendment, not merely the tiny select few favored by the State Police. The State has 30 days to file a brief after which we have 20 days to file a Reply. The case is tentatively set for oral argument before the Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis in November.
Read the Brief HERE
Your generous support of MSI is what makes all this possible. Consider joining, renewing, or donating to MSI so that we can continue to support self defense and 2nd Amendment rights in Maryland.
Maryland Shall Issue® 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.
Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., its members and Atlantic Guns were represented in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Richmond, VA) on the morning of May 6th via teleconference, appealing the lower court's dismissal of the Maryland Handgun Qualification License lawsuit on standing grounds.
MSI and it's members consider the HQL requirement (and it's provisions, such as one live round, fees, fingerprinting, etc.) an egregious infringement upon the rights of Marylanders to acquire the means to their own defense.
Please consider supporting MSI's and its all volunteer membership's efforts, on your behalf, by joining and/or donating to our shared cause.
Listen to the oral argument recording of Maryland Shall Issue, inc. v Lawrence Hogan (19-1469) below
You can find additional info, including briefs in this case and info on 2nd Amendment-related challenges across the country in the Litigation Tracker.
Gun Ranges and and Federal Firearms Licensees may remain open!
Governor Hogan's latest order (dated March 30, 2020) states:
This Order controls the occupancy and use of all businesses, organizations, establishments, and facilities that are not part of the critical infrastructure sectors identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (currently described at https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19) (collectively, “Non-Essential Businesses”).
That cross reference to the DHS website is controlling as to the scope of the Governor's definition of "non-essential businesses." Stated differently, the order expressly does NOT apply to businesses that are part of the "critical infrastructure sectors," as defined by DHS. That cross reference thus requires reference to the DHS site in order to determine what is a "critical infrastructure" business.
At that DHS website is the Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response Version 2.0 (March 28, 2020), available at https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA_Guidance_on_the_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workforce_Version_2.0_Updated.pdf. That document sets out the "identified essential critical infrastructure workers," which includes: "Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges." Those businesses may remain open, including "firearm or ammunition . . . retailers" and "shooting ranges."
We endorse the Governor's recommendations for safe practices while at these facilities. See https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/. If you have any questions on the scope of the Governor's orders, you should consult your lawyer. The Governor's orders have the force of law and a violation of the orders is a criminal misdemeanor. See MD Code, Public Safety, § 14-114.
Link to Governor Hogan's Fourth Executive Order
Link to the latest guidance from the Department of Homeland Security
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Headquarters:
Maryland Shall Issue®, Inc.
9613 Harford Rd
Ste C #1015
Baltimore, MD 21234-2150
Phone: 410-849-9197
Email:
Web: www.marylandshallissue.org
