On August 2, 2024, United States District Judge Gerald L. Russell found several Maryland gun prohibitions directed at concealed carriers to be unconstitutional.

The case in question, Novotny v. Moore, was put forward by the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., and several private individuals.

After receiving the evidence, Russell ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and granted Summary Judgment against Maryland’s prohibition on concealed carry on private property without the property owner’s consent, on top of the prohibitions on “carrying near public demonstrations or in locations selling alcohol for onsite-consumption.”

Furthermore, Russell observed that the three aforementioned laws “will be permanently enjoined.”

Maryland is one of the states with the most hostile laws toward gun ownership. According to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings, Maryland is ranked in a pitiful 44th place ranking per Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings.

This is a state where gun owners frankly can’t make any gains at the state level of the political process. It’s going to take nullification at the state and local level in addition to help from the courts for any semblance of pro-gun reforms to take place. This is the harsh reality that many gun owners in blue states are currently facing.