\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
September 23, 2024<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today,\u00a0Gun Owners of America<\/a>\u00a0(GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) filed an\u00a0amicus brief<\/a>\u00a0with the Supreme Court of the United States in support of the challenge to Maryland\u2019s \u201cAssault Weapons\u201d Ban. GOA and GOF were joined by several groups in the filing, including Gun Owners of California, Tennessee Firearms Association, Virginia Citizens Defense League, and the Heller Foundation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the brief, GOA urges the Supreme Court to take the case, arguing that the 4th\u00a0Circuit has intentionally tried\u00a0to circumvent\u00a0Bruen\u00a0<\/em>with their ruling to uphold Maryland\u2019s ban, just as they have done previously in other landmark cases that eventually reached the Supreme Court. Additionally, the brief highlights how so-called \u201cassault weapons\u201d unquestionably meet the definition of bearable arms under\u00a0Heller\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Bruen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Erich Pratt, GOA\u2019s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSemi-automatic rifles have long been in the crosshairs of anti-gunners despite their soaring popularity, and under Heller and Bruen they are undoubtedly protected by the Second Amendment. Contrary to the political spin and temper tantrums of anti-gunners, these weapons are often Americans\u2019 choice for self-defense \u2013 just ask our own Stephen Willeford.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sam Paredes, on behalf of the board for GOF, added:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe have been fighting bans on semi-automatic rifles for over four decades, and we\u2019re optimistic we may finally see one get full review by the High Court. If heard, we are confident that the Justices will rebuke Maryland and the many states across the country who have stripped their citizens of the right to bear one of America\u2019s most popular firearms.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n GOA spokesmen are available for interviews.\u00a0 Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit\u00a0GOA\u2019s Press Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n