Supreme Court Upholds Maryland’s Assault Weapons Ban, Sets Stage for Broader Gun Control Debate
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal challenging Maryland’s ban on assault weapons, effectively maintaining a lower court ruling that validates the state’s prohibition. This decision sidesteps a critical examination of whether the Second Amendment permits states to regulate certain rifles implicated in mass shootings.
The high court’s rejection follows a consistent refusal to revisit the issue, having previously opted out of the dispute last year while awaiting a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. The 4th Circuit upheld Maryland’s law in 2022, asserting that firearms such as the AR-15 are outside the protective scope of the Second Amendment.
In a notable dissent, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s inaction. Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated that the question surrounding AR-15s is being scrutinized by other federal appeals courts, and suggested the matter would soon require the high court’s attention.
In a parallel development, the Court also declined to review Rhode Island’s ban on large-capacity magazines, leaving this legislation intact as well. The Rhode Island law, passed in response to mass shooting incidents, prohibits magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds.
Both cases reflect a growing trend of legal challenges surrounding gun control in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that evolved the legal standard for assessing gun regulations. Maryland’s assault weapon ban, enacted following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of specific semi-automatic firearms.
With other similar challenges pending, observers anticipate that the Supreme Court will soon be compelled to clarify its stance on gun rights and restrictions, a pivotal issue as the nation grapples with devastating mass shootings.
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