Parties Move to Dismiss Maryland Carry Ban Lawsuit After New York’s Defeat in Bruen

GW:  The handwriting’s on the wall.

RICHMOND, VA – Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that, because of Maryland Governor Hogan’s concession and order to cease the state’s utilization of its ‘good and substantial reason’ carry permit standard, the parties have filed a joint motion to dismiss the Call v. Jones litigation as moot. Case documents can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“Both the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, as well as the Governor’s response, render this case moot,” the parties say in the motion. “By concluding that New York’s discretionary scheme violated the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court’s decision, in effect, thereby also invalidated laws that had ‘analog[ous]’ schemes, including that embodied in Maryland’s ‘good and substantial reason’ requirement. Governor Hogan’s executive action affirmed this conclusion and formalized the State’s intent to comply with Bruen.”

“Make no mistake, although called a dismissal, this is a massive win for all Marylanders, and demonstrates exactly how Bruen will have far reaching effects across the country,” said FPC’s Senior Attorney for Constitutional Litigation Cody J. Wisniewski. “It is encouraging that Mayland has accepted defeat in this instance, but FPC will remain vigilant to ensure that the Old Line State fully complies with both the letter and spirit of not just the Bruen opinion, but the Second Amendment writ large.”

With the conclusion of this case, FPC will now move forward with litigation to ensure that all Maryland residents and visitors can exercise all of their right to keep and bear arms without severe burdens and delays. This litigation includes Bianchi v. Frosh, which challenges the state’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” and was recently sent back to the Fourth Circuit by the Supreme Court to be reheard in light of Bruen. Supplemental briefing in Bianchi will take place throughout the summer, with oral arguments tentatively scheduled for December.

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