11-28-2017, 10:59 AM
State bans on 'assault weapons' upheld by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court turned away an appeal from Maryland gun owners who challenged the state's ban on the assault weapons, which were used in recent mass shootings in a south Texas church and at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas.
The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that cast doubt on whether ownership of assault weapons is protected by the Constitution, while upholding the Maryland law that does not permit the sale of a range of semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines.
"It ought to be a lesson to all states, and I would hope that they would look at the 4th Circuit's decision and the tragic events around the country and come to the conclusion that this is a common-sense law," said Maryland AG Brian Frosh.
Maryland passed the sweeping gun-control measure after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that killed 20 children and six educators in Connecticut. It bans 45 kinds of assault weapons and puts a 10-round limit on gun magazines.
The high court has not re-entered the debate over guns since rulings in 2008 and 2010 that held that Americans have a constitutional right to have guns for self-defense in their homes and that local governments could not ban handguns.
The justices also declined an appeal asserting a constitutional right to carry firearms openly in public.
Full piece: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-cou...apons-ban/
The Supreme Court turned away an appeal from Maryland gun owners who challenged the state's ban on the assault weapons, which were used in recent mass shootings in a south Texas church and at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas.
The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that cast doubt on whether ownership of assault weapons is protected by the Constitution, while upholding the Maryland law that does not permit the sale of a range of semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines.
"It ought to be a lesson to all states, and I would hope that they would look at the 4th Circuit's decision and the tragic events around the country and come to the conclusion that this is a common-sense law," said Maryland AG Brian Frosh.
Maryland passed the sweeping gun-control measure after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that killed 20 children and six educators in Connecticut. It bans 45 kinds of assault weapons and puts a 10-round limit on gun magazines.
The high court has not re-entered the debate over guns since rulings in 2008 and 2010 that held that Americans have a constitutional right to have guns for self-defense in their homes and that local governments could not ban handguns.
The justices also declined an appeal asserting a constitutional right to carry firearms openly in public.
Full piece: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-cou...apons-ban/