U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Maryland's Gun Licensing Law

A U.S. appeals court upheld Maryland's handgun licensing law, stating it remains valid despite a Supreme Court decision that expanded gun rights. The law was reviewed and found constitutional, reinforcing licensing requirements for gun purchases to ensure they are conducted by law-abiding citizens.

A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld Maryland's licensing requirements for individuals seeking to purchase handguns, declaring the law valid even after a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2022 expanded gun rights.

The Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 14-2 vote, reversed a previous 2-1 panel decision that had deemed the 2013 law unconstitutional. This law mandates Maryland residents to obtain a license and undergo training and background checks prior to buying a handgun.

Enacted as part of the Maryland Firearm Safety Act of 2013, the law was a response to the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Prospective gun buyers must submit fingerprints and complete a four-hour safety training course, waiting up to 30 days for the process to be finalized. Despite criticism from gun rights advocates, the majority opinion cited Supreme Court rulings upholding 'shall-issue' licensing regimes like Maryland's as presumptively constitutional.

(With inputs from agencies.)