Maryland Gun Law Upheld, Reversing Gun Lobby Win 3APR13

SOMETIMES the politicians and the courts do the right thing for the people, sometimes they don't. Here is a court ruling that is a good thing for the people on Maryland and sends a strong message to the nra that they don't make the decisions concerning gun laws for everyone. If reasonable gun control is something you support and want legislated consider making a donation to the Brady Campaign (I did) and participating in their actions promoting reasonable gun control legislation and defending these laws from court challenges by the nra.

Maryland Gun Law Upheld, Reversing Gun Lobby Win In a critical victory for sensible gun laws, a federal appeals court has reinstated Maryland's restrictions on carrying guns in public. If you need confirmation of why the work of the Brady Center's Legal Action Project is crucial in fighting gun violence, this is it. In one of the gun lobby's few — and most dangerous — successful challenges to common sense gun laws, last March a federal district court judge struck down Maryland's law that reasonably restricts the carrying of handguns in public. That decision could have enabled dangerous people to carry loaded hidden handguns in public, and would have served as precedent for other courts across the country. But over the past year the Legal Action Project worked long and hard, along with top lawyers with the Maryland Attorney General's office, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently reversed that decision, and unanimously upheld Maryland's law that only allows handguns to be carried in public by persons found by law enforcement to have a "good and substantial reason" to do so. If you are a supporter of the Brady Center's Legal Action Project, I thank you for your part in making this victory possible. If you have yet to give, please consider a contribution to support our work. Since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2008 Heller decision, the gun lobby has brought forth hundreds of cases against strong, sensible gun laws. The Woollard v. Sheridan case is just the latest in many victories we've had over the gun lobby in the past five years. Our Legal Action Project team assisted Maryland's Office of the Attorney General throughout this case. And we made sure the court heard from law enforcement by filing an amicus brief joined by the Major Cities Chiefs, Maryland Chiefs of Police, and the International Brotherhood of Police Organizations. The gun lobby could still seek Supreme Court review of Woollard v. Sheridan. And other gun laws are currently under attack in more than 20 states.... Will you help the Legal Action Project defend strong, sensible gun laws by making a tax-deductible gift to the Brady Center today? Generous Americans like you make it possible for us to continue our important work in the courts. With appreciation, Jonathan E. Lowy, Director Legal Action Project Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence   Our victory in Woollard v. Sheridan is the latest recognition that the Second Amendment must allow law enforcement to protect and defend our communities. It also underscores the fact that gun rights can coexist with strong, sensible gun violence prevention laws that keep guns off our streets. Thanks in part to the Brady Center, every "may issue" concealed carry law that allows for law enforcement discretion has been upheld for states nationwide, including New York, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey — and now, Maryland. Please support the Legal Action Project. Help the Brady Center defend and protect strong, sensible gun laws. DONATE FORWARD FACEBOOK IT!