Federal Judge Partially Blocks Maryland Firearm Restriction Near Places of Worship
In Montgomery County, Maryland, a recent law prohibits firearms and ammunition within 100 yards of places of public assembly. Following legal challenges, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing individuals to carry firearms inside synagogues for self-defense, but upheld…
Salt Lake City, UT, October 2, 2026 — In Montgomery County, Maryland, a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction that partially blocks a recently enacted law restricting firearm possession near places of public assembly. The law, which prohibited firearms and ammunition within 100 yards of such locations, faced legal challenges from groups concerned about self-defense rights.
The ruling, however, creates a complex scenario for individuals, particularly clergy, seeking to carry firearms for protection. A federal judge granted an injunction allowing individuals to carry firearms inside synagogues for the purpose of self-defense. This decision directly addresses concerns raised by religious institutions about their ability to protect congregants.
Despite this allowance for carrying firearms within religious buildings, the judge upheld the 100-yard restriction for approaching and departing these locations. This means that while a rabbi may be permitted to be armed inside a synagogue, they would not be legally allowed to carry a firearm while walking to or from the synagogue within that 100-yard buffer zone.
The initial law was established to regulate firearm access around places designated for public assembly. The legal challenge argued that such broad restrictions infringed upon the rights of individuals to self-defense, especially in areas where they may feel vulnerable. The court’s decision reflects a balancing act between public safety regulations and Second Amendment rights, offering a partial reprieve for those seeking to carry arms for protection in specific contexts.
The precise implications of this bifurcated ruling remain to be seen, as it establishes a situation where the legality of carrying a firearm depends on one’s immediate proximity to the place of assembly. This distinction means that the act of carrying a firearm becomes permissible only upon entering the designated building, not during the travel to and from it within the restricted perimeter. The status of the 100-yard restriction for other places of public assembly not covered by the preliminary injunction remains as originally enacted.
Story summarized from the original created by Reagan Campbell on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
Media gallery
