Maryland Senate Passes Gun Safety Legislation To Address Dangerous Supreme Court Ruling by Strengthening Licensing Laws and Establishing Sensitive Locations  

The Maryland chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement applauding  the Maryland Senate for passing SB1– the Gun Safety Act of 2023 – yesterday evening to address the new dangers created by the Supreme Court’s flawed decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The legislation strengthens the state’s concealed carry licensing laws and establishes a comprehensive list of sensitive locations where guns may not be carried, including public demonstrations, bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, government buildings, schools, and polling places. 

“There are some places where guns simply don’t belong — places like polling places, schools,  and bars and restaurants that serve alcohol,” said Giselle Morch, a Senior Survivor Fellow, member of the Everytown Survivor Network and volunteer with the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action. Giselle’s son, Jaycee, was shot and killed in a home invasion in 2017.” “The Supreme Court failed us and we applaud Senator Waldstreicher and Senator Smith for their leadership to right that wrong and protect our communities from gun violence. We are proud to have worked with them to pass this life-saving bill and we hope that the House will follow their lead to get it across the finish line.”  

The Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen struck down an important provision of New York State’s concealed carry permitting law that required an individual to prove they had “proper cause” to carry concealed firearms in public. The Bruen decision dangerously lowered the bar for who can carry guns in public. In addition to removing language similar to New York’s challenged law, bill SB1 responds to the heightened risk created by the court’s ruling by setting strong minimum standards for who may obtain a license to carry concealed guns in public and the type of training they must undergo, and by creating clear rules on where those who have obtained permits are prohibited from bringing their firearms. 

In an average year in Maryland, 796 people die by guns and 1,363 people are wounded. Gun violence costs Maryland $10.5 billion each year. More information on gun violence in Maryland is available here.