Despite last year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling overturning may-issue gun laws, Maryland lawmakers essentially banned concealed carry.
Newly-sworn in Governor Wes Moore (D-MD) recently signed the so-called Gun Safety Act of 2023 (or Senate Bill 1) into law prohibiting concealed carry throughout much of the Old Line State.
“Gun violence is tearing apart the fabric of our communities, not just through mass shootings but through shootings that are happening in each of our communities far too often,” Moore said at a bill-signing ceremony. “In Maryland, we refuse to say these problems are too big or too tough.”
Moore added, “We will act, and that’s exactly what today represents.”
This move undermines gains made after last June’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association vs. Bruen ruling, which determined Americans have a Second Amendment right to conceal carry outside their homes. Since 2021, requests for Maryland concealed carry applications have significantly increased. As of May 2023, over 125,000 Marylanders have applied for carry permits for the first time. This trend should be welcomed, not discouraged.