NRA says it's asking federal court to overturn Maryland handgun qualification license law

The 2 Amendment is the right to KEEP and to BEAR, meaning the right to purchase, own, and CARRY. If Maryland can use subterfuge to deny this right, by implementing a small tax or demanding a simple class or having the signature of some beaurocrat, what would prevent Maryland from imposing a large and burdensome tax on firearms, or a requirement to take firearms classes yearly, or to carry firearm insurance? These things could be stretched to a point where your right is forfeit through state implented expense.

It is the right to KEEP and BEAR. Period.

Good for the NRA. But I'm still not going to send money until they clean house and terminate Wayne LaPierre.

This appears to be in parallel with the GOA (or SOF, I forget which) MD suit where they were going after MD's policy which was to never approve any carry permits, as a "legitimate reason" is required for issuance, and nothing is identified as "legitimate."

"We" probably need more of these "un-necessarily burdened" "excess paperwork" lawsuits. Which may follow if the NJ & MD suits against requiring "legitimate need" are overturned.

Very similar to what NJ requires. First you need a Firearm ID Card. Supposed to be issued within 30 days. Only way you get it within 30 days is if you make a stink. Some people have waiting upwards of 6 months to get said card. You can then purchase any long gun with your card. If you want to purchase a pistol, you have to apply for a permit to purchase a pistol. Only 3 permits at a time can be issued, and the permit is only good for 90 days, but can be extended for an additional 90 days. And you can only purchase one pistol every 30 days. So you have only 90 days to use the permits, but can only purchase a total of 3 pistols over those 90 days. Forget about carrying in NJ. You have to prove "need". Unless you are retired LE or a PI, good luck convincing a sheriff to sign off on that. Wonder why the NRA doesn't go after NJ lawmakers. Oh, and the SCOTUS continues to refuse to hear our case.

CapnMac said:

"We" probably need more of these "un-necessarily burdened" "excess paperwork" lawsuits. Which may follow if the NJ & MD suits against requiring "legitimate need" are overturned.

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The only success the 2nd Amendment Society of NJ has had with these lawsuits is eliminating some paperwork that was outright and blatantly against the 4th Amendment. For example, years ago, if you applied for a Firearm ID Card, one of the things on there was that the Police could call your employer and ask questions about your mental competence. That was removed. You still have to provide non family personal references which have to attest to your sound mind. The whole process is specifically set up to prevent people from exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. Don't even get me started on NJ using their own NICS system which takes 5-7 days before it gets approved. Instead of the national average of 20-30 minutes (if my research is accurate).

Let's not wander into other issues. Such deleted.

We will see if SCOTUS takes any clear cases and not peripheral issues.

NuShootr said:

Very similar to what NJ requires. First you need a Firearm ID Card. Supposed to be issued within 30 days. Only way you get it within 30 days is if you make a stink. Some people have waiting upwards of 6 months to get said card. You can then purchase any long gun with your card. If you want to purchase a pistol, you have to apply for a permit to purchase a pistol. Only 3 permits at a time can be issued, and the permit is only good for 90 days, but can be extended for an additional 90 days. And you can only purchase one pistol every 30 days. So you have only 90 days to use the permits, but can only purchase a total of 3 pistols over those 90 days. Forget about carrying in NJ. You have to prove "need". Unless you are retired LE or a PI, good luck convincing a sheriff to sign off on that. Wonder why the NRA doesn't go after NJ lawmakers. Oh, and the SCOTUS continues to refuse to hear our case.

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People don't talk about it much, but the state also requires two NJ references to fill out and sign an official form testifying to your suitability to own a pistol. When I lived in NJ I'd friends who were neutral on guns, and provided the forms, but it's a hell of a thing to be subjected to this requirement. And it's not just once, but every time. That really needs to go.

unclenunzie said:

People don't talk about it much, but the state also requires two NJ references to fill out and sign an official form testifying to your suitability to own a pistol. When I lived in NJ I'd friends who were neutral on guns, and provided the forms, but it's a hell of a thing to be subjected to this requirement. And it's not just once, but every time. That really needs to go.

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Indeed. Now, it's all done digitally, but yes, this aspect of the firearm purchasing process in NJ is head shaking to say the least. I've been in NJ for a decade, and just about every year we ask the SCOTUS to look at these requirements, and every year, they put it on the docket, and then stay their review of these items. It's incredibly frustrating. Happily, the more I get into this, both shooting wise and politically, the more people I have to watch my back on these sort of things. We certainly have enough people to mount a good fight, but we aren't really given the option. Very sad.

Aim1 said:

I can't believe you have to have 2 references to own a gun. That's unreal. If you had to have two references to vote people would be up in arms.

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Yep. Believe it. Not 2 references to own a gun. 2 references just to get approved to get a permit to buy a gun. It's insanity.

So once again, another gun rights group does the leg work to initiate a lawsuit and the NRA swoops in and supports it after the hard part is done, making major news and looking like they’re “fighting for us” without actually doing anything. Sure glad the VCDL was around to protest and stop the VA AWB in 2019/2020. The NRA sure couldn’t be bothered to lead that effort, despite VA being their headquarters and the fact that they’re supposed to be “the 800 pound gorilla” when it comes to gun rights.

jamesinalaska said:

Good for the NRA. But I'm still not going to send money until they clean house and terminate Wayne LaPierre.

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Agreed the NRA needs to get back on track, Wayne LaPierre is much like a career politician another area where term limits should be applied.

5whiskey said:

another gun rights group does the leg work to initiate a lawsuit and the NRA swoops in and supports it after the hard part is done

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Uhm, the GOA/SOF (whichever it is) suit is on a completely different aspect of MD gun law.

This is what we want out of our quiver of "rights" groups, we want them to hector every possible part of every one of these laws. There ought to be 4 or 5 lawsuits going on in all the problematic States.

In fairness, usually, the hard part is qualifying either a Class, or qualifying Damage. That's what caused the HI carry permit lawsuit to ping-pong endlessly. The Class was questioned because they could not find anyone objecting to the lack of permits (no one much bothered to apply, either). The Damage was questioned as the State claimed there was no evidence of "harm" as a result of not issuing a single permit. Ever. Ninth Circus was not as "pro" then as it is now. But, the original case is closed (and none of the representatives of the Class reside there anymore, IIRC).

The MD suit brought last year (which had a good thread here at THR) was based on MD requiring a "suitable reason" to issue a CHL. Then denying that any reason given was suitable. The legal logic was rather fascinating to see laid out.

NRA then sued NJ on similar grounds for the similar feature in their law (around July/August, IIRC).

CapnMac, you are correct that the lawsuit in question here is not the GOA lawsuit. But the article clearly states “The influential (I would argue formerly) gun rights group is supporting a lawsuit in which Maryland Shall Issue, another gun rights organization, is suing...“ (in essence the government over requiring a class to own a handgun). Well big whoop, it’s about time the NRA did something. Sorry if I’m not impressed by them only supporting a lawsuit another 2A group initiated.

I stuck by the NRA through a lot. I’ve defended them a ton. When the Parkland shooting happened I was super impressed by Dana Loesch attending the town hall... I mean ambush... in the aftermath. Since that time, I haven’t seen anything from the NRA but scandals. I’m done with them until there is a change of leadership.

its nice to see they decided to finally started to do something besides take another vacation with the money they have collected still a member by rethinking that decision every day .