ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has directed the state police to suspend the state’s “good and substantial reason” standard for permits to carry handguns after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar New York law last month.
The Republican governor said in a statement Tuesday that the New York law pertaining to handguns “is virtually indistinguishable from Maryland law.”
As a result, Hogan said he was directing the Maryland State Police to immediately suspend use of the “good and substantial reason” standard when reviewing applications for wear and carry permits, which are often called conceal and carry gun permits.
Hogan says it would be unconstitutional to continue enforcing this provision in state law after the Supreme Court decision that found New York’s gun law overly restrictive.
“It would be unconstitutional to continue enforcing this provision in state law. There is no impact on other permitting requirements and protocols,” Hogan said in the statement.
Maryland State Police stress that applicants still need to meet all other requirements, including a full background check, fingerprinting and a check that those applicants aren’t barred by law from owning guns.
Other states that have laws similar to the New York law that the Supreme Court struck down include California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan and Hugh Garbrick contributed to this story.
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