Woollard v. Gallagher
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
712 F.3d 865 (2013)
- Written by Eric Miller, JD
Facts
Raymond Woollard (plaintiff) experienced a harrowing home invasion by his son-in-law resulting in the son-in-law’s arrest. This prompted Woollard to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public for self-defense purposes. Four years later, Woollard sought to renew the permit but was denied after the permit review board determined that he lacked a good and substantial reason—a requirement under Maryland law. The law contained exceptions to the requirement—e.g., moving a handgun from one place of legal ownership to another—but these were apparently not applicable. Woollard brought suit against the police superintendent and the members of the permit review board in federal district court. The officials cited the government interest of protecting the public and combating crime, which had been sharply increasing in the area. The court held that the good-and-substantial-reason requirement violated the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The officials appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (King, J.)
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