In June, a Supreme Court ruling struck down a portion of New York’s gun permitting law, forcing the state to allow more people to carry guns in public places and endangering similar portions of gun permitting laws in Maryland and five other states. Since the decision, the state has seen a spike in concealed carry permit applications.
Following the dangerous decision, many states — including New York, New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts — have taken steps in the wake of this new challenge created by the Court to ensure that their concealed carry permit laws continue to protect the lives of state residents.In Maryland, however, Governor Larry Hogan has failed to follow suit, putting Maryland communities in jeopardy as the state sees a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking to carry hidden, loaded guns in public.
From The Baltimore Banner:
The number of new applications for wear and carry permits has skyrocketed.
From June 23-July 11, people submitted 5,314 new applications for wear and carry permits, said Elena Russo, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, in an email. That’s about a 772.6% increase from the same time last year.
Taking action to curb the effects of this irresponsible decision by the Supreme Court is crucial. In Montgomery County, the County Council is currently considering a measure to address the decision by prohibiting the carrying of guns in sensitive places, such as parks and public buildings.
If you would like to speak to a Maryland Moms Demand Action volunteer, please don’t hesitate to reach out.