On April 10, 2023, the last day of the Maryland General Assembly 2023 session, the House voted to pass Senate Bill 0001 (SB1). The Senate had previously approved this bill, nicknamed the “can’t carry anywhere” bill, and was signed by Governor Moore. SB1 and it’s companion bill HB0824, which doubles the fees for license applications for both HQL and Concealed Carry permits and also shortens the length that licenses are valid, are designed to make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to acquire and legally carry firearms in Maryland.

Second Amendment and self defense advocates, such as Maryland Shall Issue, have filed lawsuits to fight this draconian law in the courts, as it flies directly in the face of the Second Amendment as well as the Supreme Court decisions that affirmed the right of law abiding citizens to own and carry firearms.

You may wonder whether it still makes sense to go through the process of obtaining permits when these laws, which will take effect on October 1 of this year, make it so hard to exercise your right as protected under the Constitution. There are several reasons why you should definitely consider getting licensed.

1. There is strength in numbers. The lawsuits that are set to be filed benefit from the sheer numbers of citizens who have carry permits. 
2. While Maryland does not recognize carry permits from other states, there are a number of states that allow you to carry with a Maryland permit (reciprocity laws). For example, you are automatically eligible to acquire a Pennsylvania carry permit once you get your Maryland permit. 
3. A judge has already issued a Preliminary Injunction that bars the implementation of some of the worst aspects of the law.