Jewish Center sues Montgomery County over new gun ban near places of assembly
The Silver Spring Jewish Center, with the Justice Department, has filed a lawsuit challenging Montgomery County’s July law that prohibits licensed firearms within 100 yards of synagogues and other public assembly sites.
In Montgomery County, Maryland, a new ordinance passed in July makes it illegal to carry a licensed firearm inside or within 100 yards of any place of public assembly, a category that includes synagogues. The Silver Spring Jewish Center, joined by the Department of Justice, has sued to block the rule, arguing it strips congregations of the ability to rely on volunteer armed security teams and forces them to pay for external guards, which they deem unaffordable.
Rabbi Menashe Shapiro highlighted that the county is the only U.S. locality where a house of worship cannot permit its members or staff to carry firearms inside the building. The lawsuit leans on the Supreme Court’s June Wolford v. Lopez ruling, which was hailed by gun-rights advocates as a win for public carry rights. County Executive Marc Elrich supported the law as a necessary measure to curb gun violence, emphasizing a need for regulation.
Opponents contend the ban disproportionately harms the Jewish community, especially as antisemitic incidents have surged since the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. The case remains pending, with a judge questioning why the plaintiffs waited to sue after the original 2021 version of the law.
Why it matters
The case could set a precedent on whether houses of worship can arm their own security under the Constitution.
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