Md. gun law debated in federal court

BALTIMORE (AP) — Lawyers for the state of Maryland have asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against a gun-control law, but attorneys who filed it say parts of the law should be overturned.

Lawyers argued Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore about the law that was enacted last year.

John Parker Sweeney, a lawyer leading the challenges to the law, says lawmakers did not narrowly tailor the law to protect the public when they banned a variety of assault weapons and limited gun magazines to 10 bullets. Instead, he says the state went too far and banned popular firearms that can be used for self-defense.

But Assistant Attorney General Matthew Fader contends the state took a reasonable approach by focusing on firearms used in military-assault style attacks and mass shootings.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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