The Supreme Court has decided not to take on a challenge to Maryland’s ban on "assault weapons," leaving the ban intact. This decision was made on a Monday, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joining the three liberal justices in the majority. As a result, Maryland’s ban remains in place, along with similar laws in eight other states, including California, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
Justices Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas expressed their disagreement with the decision not to hear the case. They indicated that they would have been willing to review the challenge. Thomas highlighted his concern that this refusal could pave the way for more restrictive gun laws at the federal level. He emphasized that the court has avoided addressing the legality of banning popular firearms for a decade.
Despite siding with the majority, Kavanaugh issued a statement acknowledging the significance of the case. He pointed out that the AR-15, a type of semi-automatic rifle, is owned by an estimated 20 to 30 million Americans. He noted that these rifles are legal in 41 states, making Maryland’s restrictions somewhat unusual.
Kavanaugh also mentioned that the petitioners challenging the ban have a strong argument. They claim that since millions of Americans own AR-15s and many states permit them, these firearms should be considered "common use" and thus protected by the Second Amendment.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the challenge means that a previous ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which upheld Maryland’s ban, continues to stand. This ruling has implications not just for Maryland but also for the broader debate on gun rights and regulations across the country.