BALTIMORE, MD—The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of maintaining Maryland’s ban on assault weapons.
The decision in Bianchi v. Brown affirmed the constitutionality of the 2013 Maryland Firearm Safety Act, originally enacted after the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012 which claimed the lives of 26 people, including 20 children.
In a 10-5 decision, the court rejected a challenge to the law following a hearing with the full court earlier this year.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown hailed the decision, stating, “The Court’s decision today will save lives. Access to weapons of war that have no place in our communities causes senseless and preventable deaths.”
Attorney General Brown also emphasized the state’s commitment to defending gun safety laws that are designed to protect the residents of Maryland.