September 30, 2013: Tomorrow, provisions of new firearms laws enacted by several states take effect:
Connecticut: Ammunition buyers in Connecticut who do not possess either a permit to carry a handgun, or a long gun eligibility certificate, will be required to obtain an ammunition eligibility certificate.
North Carolina: The expanded concealed carry rights we previously reported on go into effect, and the time Sheriffs have to issue or deny a handgun purchase permit application is shortened to 14 days from 30 days. Note: The time permitted for issuing or denying a concealed carry permit application has not changed and remains 45 days.
Maryland: Comprehensive new gun law goes into effect. Among other things the new law:
1. Prohibits sales of “assault weapons” and detachable magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition
2. Prohibited assault weapons include more than 80 specifically identified “assault pistols” and “assault long guns,” as well as feature-based group of “copycat weapons,” which include :
a. Semiautomatic pistols with fixed magazine capacities in excess of 10 rounds;
b. Shotguns with revolving cylinders and semiautomatic shotguns with folding stocks; and
c. Semiautomatic centerfire rifles with: (a) fixed magazine capacities in excess of 10 rounds; (b) overall lengths shorter than 29 inches; or (c) a detachable magazines and at least two out of three named features—folding stock, grenade launcher, flash suppressor.
At the same time, two new lawsuits were filed late last week. In Maryland, a group of firearms owners, retailers, and several firearms related associations filed a lawsuit in Federal court against Gov. Martin O’Malley and others challenging the new Maryland laws discussed above. The complaint (available here) seeks an injunction and a temporary restraining order against the new law on the basis that it violates the 2nd Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause.
On Friday, yet another Federal lawsuit challenging the NY SAFE Act was filed against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The complaint (available here) argues that the provision of the NY SAFE Act which prohibits loading more than seven rounds of ammunition in any magazine violates the 2nd Amendment and seeks an injunction against its enforcement.