ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A federal appeals court is ordering gun dealers in Anne Arundel County to issue suicide prevention and conflict resolution pamphlets to customers.
The ruling stems from a May 2022 lawsuit filed by Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. and four local gun shops.
They claimed County Bill 108-21 trampled over their First Amendment rights.
"You simply have a right not to take a position at all. In the dealer's case, they would prefer to conduct business without engaging in this exchange of literature with their customers. It means it's a fundamental right not to say anything at all," the organization's attorney Mark Pennak previously told WMAR.
RELATED: Anne Arundel gun dealers sue the county for alleged First Amendment violation
At the time County Executive Steuart Pittman argued the legislation could save lives.
"When people are purchasing a firearm, we hope that most of them are doing so with good intent," said Pittman. "But we want them to know that there's help out there if they're in a situation where, whether it's depression or suicidal tendencies to be able to reach out for help."
Under the court-approved law gun shops refusing to provide pamphlets can be fined over $1000 per violation.
Pittman called the decision "a win for the people of this county."
We reached out to Maryland Shall Issue for a statement and here's what they said:
In our view, the Fourth Circuit has misread and misapplied controlling Supreme Court First Amendment precedent in its holding. We will be seeking further review.
