Gun rights organizations have filed a new legal challenge against Maryland’s ban on Glock-style handguns, contending the state’s own characterization of the firearms undermines the legal basis for the restriction. The court filing argues that the targeted handguns are common, ordinary weapons that Americans are constitutionally entitled to own.
The filing states directly that Maryland has acknowledged the guns are not dangerous or unusual. “The Glock-style handguns that are the target of Maryland’s ban are, by the State’s own admission, not dangerous or unusual arms, but common and ordinary semiautomatic handguns that can be, if illegally modified, converted into machineguns,” the document reads.
The Constitutional Argument Against the Maryland Glock Ban
The legal filing centers on the absence of any historical precedent for banning firearms simply because they could potentially be misused or illegally altered. “There is no history of restricting common arms that could be illegally misused or modified,” the document states. “And there similarly is no history of prohibiting the commercial or private sale of firearms that citizens are constitutionally entitled to possess.”
Under existing federal law, possessing or manufacturing a fully automatic firearm that is not registered under the National Firearms Act is already a serious crime, carrying a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Gun rights advocates argue that illegal modification is already addressed by federal statute and does not justify restricting the underlying handgun. You can read more about Maryland’s Glock handgun ban challenge in the original court filing coverage.
Glocks Are Among the Most Widely Used Handguns in the Country
Glock pistols consistently rank among the best-selling firearms in the United States, appearing regularly on sales lists compiled by publications including Guns and Ammo magazine. The company’s Glock 19X sold more than 100,000 units in less than six months following its release, according to a 2018 company press release.
The handguns are also standard issue for numerous law enforcement agencies. The FBI has equipped its agents with Glock pistols since 1997. Former Vice President Kamala Harris publicly stated on multiple occasions that she personally owns a Glock for self-protection.
The case now moves forward in court, where a judge will weigh whether Maryland’s justification for the ban holds up against both constitutional protections and the state’s own concessions about the nature of the firearms involved. Gun rights advocates say the filing puts the state in a difficult position heading into the next phase of litigation.
