A Maryland synagogue filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County over a law that restricts permit holders from carrying semi-automatic rifles within 100 yards of houses of worship. The law, enacted on July 27, provides exceptions for police officers and licensed security guards.

Background

The lawsuit, filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) on behalf of the Silver Spring Jewish Center and Rabbi J. Menashe Shapiro, argues that the county law violates the Second Amendment rights of Jewish people and endangers them by depriving them of ways to defend themselves.

The NCLA maintains that the recent Supreme Court decision on Wolford v. Lopez found that states and municipalities cannot deny citizens their Second Amendment rights. The lawsuit demands that a court rule that the law was in violation of the First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendment and permanently enjoin the county from enforcing the law.

Support and Reaction

Rabbi Shapiro and NCLA Senior Litigation Counsel Jacob Huebert have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Jewish community regarding this lawsuit. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon expressed support for the lawsuit, warning that the Justice Department would take action if the Maryland county did not block enforcement of the law.

Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González released a statement defending the law, saying that the restrictions were not a new addition and were intended to safeguard residents and first responders from gun violence.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.