SAF SEEKS SUPREME COURT REVIEW IN 'SENSITIVE PLACES' CASE
The Second Amendment Foundation filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to review Novotny v. Moore, their challenge to Maryland's expansive "sensitive places" law that bans concealed carry in dozens of locations. The case targets Maryland's response to the 2022 Bruen decision, which required states to issue carry permits but allowed restrictions in historically sensitive areas. Maryland's law goes far beyond traditional restrictions, banning carry in places like public transportation, parks, and within 100 feet of public demonstrations. SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb called the restrictions "a deliberate attempt to gut Bruen through legislative overreach." The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld most of Maryland's restrictions in March 2026, setting up the Supreme Court petition.
Background and Context
After Bruen struck down New York's "may issue" permit system, Maryland and seven other states scrambled to rewrite their carry laws. Maryland's legislature passed House Bill 4 in 2023, creating one of the nation's most restrictive "sensitive places" lists. The law bans carry in over 30 categories of locations, including all public transportation, state and local government buildings, healthcare facilities, and entertainment venues. It also creates 100-foot buffer zones around polling places and public demonstrations. Lead plaintiff Mark Novotny, a Maryland concealed carry permit holder, sued in federal court claiming the restrictions violate his Second Amendment rights. Lower courts initially blocked some provisions but the Fourth Circuit reversed, finding most restrictions historically justified.
What This Means for Gun Owners
If the Supreme Court takes the case, it would be the first major Second Amendment ruling since Bruen established the "history and tradition" test for gun laws. A favorable ruling could strike down similar sensitive places laws in New York, New Jersey, California, and Hawaii. Currently, Maryland permit holders face potential felony charges for carrying in prohibited areas, even accidentally. The law's 100-foot buffer zones make legal carry nearly impossible in urban areas where demonstrations or government buildings are common. Gun rights attorney David Jensen, who represents the plaintiffs, argues the restrictions "turn the constitutional right to bear arms into a privilege that exists only where the government allows." A Supreme Court ruling could clarify how broadly states can define sensitive places.
Industry Impact
The case has drawn support from major gun rights organizations and firearms industry groups. The National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation all filed amicus briefs supporting the petition. Firearms training companies report confusion among Maryland customers about where they can legally carry, leading to reduced permit applications. Some shooting ranges near the Maryland border report increased business from residents seeking training in Virginia and West Virginia instead. The uncertainty has also affected firearms retailers, who face customer questions about carry laws they cannot fully answer. Industry analysts say a Supreme Court ruling would provide much-needed clarity for the estimated 2.3 million Americans with concealed carry permits.
What to Watch Next
The Supreme Court will likely decide whether to hear the case by October 2026. The justices typically grant review in cases that split lower courts or involve important constitutional questions. Similar sensitive places laws face challenges in other circuits, creating potential splits that favor Supreme Court review. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has not yet responded to the petition but previously defended the law as "reasonable public safety measures." If the Court grants review, oral arguments would occur in early 2027 with a decision by June 2027. SAF has also filed similar challenges in New Jersey and Hawaii, which could be affected by any Supreme Court ruling. The case represents the next major test of how far the Bruen decision extends.
DownRange Bottom Line: This petition forces the Supreme Court to decide whether anti-gun states can effectively ban concealed carry through endless sensitive places lists. Bruen means nothing if states can prohibit carry everywhere except your driveway.
