Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Maryland’s Assault Weapons Ban, Allowing Legal Battle to Continue

The Supreme Court’s decision to not take up a challenge to Maryland’s ban on assault weapons has left the law in place for now, allowing legal proceedings to continue in the dispute. The ban, enacted in response to the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, prohibits the possession, sale, transfer, or purchase of certain semiautomatic rifles.

The challengers of the ban, including Maryland residents, a licensed gun dealer, and pro-Second Amendment groups, argue that the law violates the Second Amendment. The case has already been upheld by the 4th Circuit once before, and the Supreme Court declined to review that decision. However, a 2022 ruling expanding the scope of the Second Amendment has prompted the high court to send the dispute back to lower courts for further proceedings.

The Supreme Court’s new standard for evaluating the constitutionality of gun laws, which emphasizes historical tradition and regulation of firearms, has led to the invalidation of several long-standing gun restrictions. Maryland officials have argued that their ban on assault-style weapons aligns with this standard and is necessary for public safety.

The outcome of this legal battle is expected to have significant implications for gun rights and regulations in Maryland and other states with similar laws. The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling on this case could provide further guidance on how courts should apply the new standard set forth in recent Second Amendment decisions.