(Ezekiel Loseke, Headline USA) Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has announced that he will lower restrictions on concealed carry permits in Maryland this week, citing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on a New York law.
“Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision in New York law pertaining to handgun permitting that is virtually indistinguishable from Maryland law,” Hogan wrote on his office’s website.
“To ensure compliance with the Constitution, I am directing the Maryland State Police to immediately suspend utilization of the ‘good and substantial reason’ standard when reviewing applications for Wear and Carry Permits.”
Hogan argued that it was his duty to change the law because “it would be unconstitutional to continue enforcing this provision in state law.”
Maryland’s move follows SCOTUS’ decision in the Bruen case, ruling that governments may not require citizens to justify their pursuit of a permit to carry a weapon.
Justice Clarence Thomas argued, “We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need.”
“That is not how the First Amendment works when it comes to unpopular speech or the free exercise of religion,” Thomas wrote.
“It is not how the Sixth Amendment works when it comes to a defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him. And it is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense.”
Hogan cited an appeal to the constitution as his motivation for Maryland’s gun law. Still, Politico reported that a case against the Maryland law was already working through the court.
Apart from Maryland, several states have similar laws, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
All states have not adopted Maryland’s approach; according to Politico, California, New York, and Rhode Island have opted for stricter gun control, despite SCOTUS’ ruling, continuing the recent trend of leftist insurrection against the rule of law.
