Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc., Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers Association, Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and several firearms dealers and individual Maryland citizens, have filed suit today to stay the implementation Tuesday of Maryland's planned implementation of a Handgun Qualification License ("HQL") requirement for all Marylanders  seeking to purchase a handgun on or after October 1, 2013.

The Maryland Firearm Safety Act of 2013, alternatively known as SB 281 (the "Act"), will impose upon all handgun purchasers a pre-purchase burden of fingerprinting and a $50 application fee. First-time handgun purchasers who are not honorably discharged from the military or are police officers, will face the additional requirement of four hours of live instruction (Maryland State Police regulations are expected to add the firing of one round at a range as part of the instruction). This must all be done before, and in addition to, the submission of the now-required 77R application, extending the time of purchase by up to 30 days.

The lawsuit, filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, requests immediate emergency injunctive relief in the form of a Temporary Restraining Order because the October 1HQL requirement is a de facto ban on the purchase of handguns, as there currently exists no procedure for acquiring a HQL, creating an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment right of the law-abiding, responsible citizens of Maryland to obtain a handgun for defense in the home.

It is important to recognize that this unnecessary crisis has been manufactured by the State of Maryland itself. SB 281 was passed months ago, yet the State has made no effort to put a HQL process in place before now, leaving us with no choice but to seek intervention from the courts.

We, the Maryland citizens filing this lawsuit wish to express gratitude for the assistance and guidance of the NRA in fighting for the Second Amendment rights of all Marylanders. The NRA has provided invaluable support and leadership in the fight against this unfair and illegal mistreatment of all Marylanders. Together we are drawing a line in the sand where Maryland's gun control agenda tramples the fundamental individual right to defend oneself and family in the home.