In an appeal backed by the National Rifle Association the Supreme Court has upheld a 2013 Maryland ban preventing the sale of assault rifles, the kinds of which were recently used in the mass shootings in Las Vegas and Texas. The ban which became law after the devastating shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut were upheld without comment by the justices who denied the appeal.
20 children and 6 adults lost their lives in the Sandy Hook massacre, and the assault weapons used in this horrible incident are the ones that led to the ban. These same types of guns were the ones used by Stephen Paddock in Las Vegas when he shot and killed 58 people, as well as the ones used by Texas gunman Devin Kelley who killed 26 churchgoers in Sutherland Springs with his assault weapon.
The ban was a challenge to the Maryland law by Governor Martin O’Malley known as the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, as well as a ruling by the 4th U.S. circuit court of appeals. The law specifically bans assault long guns which is applicable to large capacity magazines as well as semi-automatic rifles.
This is the first gun control argument heard by the Supreme Court since back in 2010 as they typically leave these types of rulings to state laws and the lower courts. With the rise in mass shootings throughout the country however, it is not surprising that they have decided to take a more direct approach to this increasingly controversial issue at this time.
The laws surrounding guns are ever changing. If you’ve been charged with a weapons offense or have found yourself in any other situation where you need the help of an educated attorney, James M. Porfido, Attorney at Law is here to assist you in finding the best steps to take next. Contact the Law Offices of James M. Porfido at (973) 370-9788 or via his online contact form today to get started on your case.
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