The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has approved Maryland’s request for a full court review of the state’s handgun licensing law, which was initially declared unconstitutional by a three-judge panel in November, announced Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on Thursday.
The three-judge panel had voted 2-1, asserting that Maryland’s law, mandating citizens to obtain a license before acquiring a handgun, was in violation of the Constitution. In response to the panel’s decision, Brown’s office sought a hearing for the entire court to reconsider the case, and the request has now been granted.
The November ruling deemed Maryland’s requirement for citizens to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun as unconstitutionally restrictive. The licensing process can take up to 30 days. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown expressed satisfaction with the decision to revisit the case, emphasizing the state’s commitment to defending what he referred to as “common-sense gun laws” aimed at protecting residents from preventable tragedies.
The legal challenge against Maryland’s handgun licensing law was initiated in 2016, contesting a state law that mandated individuals to acquire a special license before buying a handgun. This law was enacted in 2013 in response to the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The upcoming full court review will play a pivotal role in determining the fate of Maryland’s handgun licensing regulations.