A federal appeals court has upheld Maryland's ban on assault weapons in a recent ruling that has sparked debate among judges. The challenge to Maryland's law was one of many gun rights lawsuits that have come under scrutiny in light of a stringent, history-focused test set by the Supreme Court in 2022.
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals, in a majority opinion, supported the ban on semiautomatic weapons, citing their association with mass killings and terrorist attacks in the United States. The dissenting opinion, however, argued that the majority disregarded the wisdom of the Founders and granted states unprecedented power to restrict constitutional liberties.
