That is the question in Maryland, where state police say they will continue to enforce a controversial handgun law despite it being found unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.
The agency sent out a bulletin last week declaring, “At this time, the HQL law remains in effect and there are no immediate changes in the process to purchase a firearm in Maryland.”
The state’s contentious Handgun Qualification License (HQL) mandate forces applicants to contend with an arduous process to keep and bear arms. They must submit fingerprints for the required background check, take a four-hour safety course in which they will fire at least one live round, and cool their heels for up to 30 days waiting on approval to purchase a handgun.
Even then, it’s not over.
Yet another application must be submitted followed by a seven-day waiting period.
Last week, however, these requirements should have vanished. On Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that requiring law-abiding citizens to jump through these state-mandated hoops violated the Second Amendment.
The panel also determined that Maryland’s law does not pass muster under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. It clearly does not align with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.
But that’s apparently not good enough for the Maryland State Police licensing division. It asserted the provision will continue to be enforced until a mandate is issued by the federal court.
According to Fox45 News, the state has 14 days to file for a rehearing before the full appeals court. In the absence of this filing, a court mandate will be issued seven days later.
That put the date for a final ruling on Dec. 11.
But unconstitutional is unconstitutional. Forcing law-abiding Maryland citizens to submit to a process the appeals court determined runs afoul of their rights is hardly a good look for the state, and its people deserve better.
