County Council passes bill redefining public places where guns are restricted 

New rules bring county in alignment with Supreme Court of Maryland opinion

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July 21, 2026 3:04 p.m.

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In a 10-1 vote on Tuesday, the Montgomery County Council passed a bill making amendments to a county gun law that effectively banned ghost guns and prevented people from carrying guns in “places of public assembly.”  

The changes bring the county into alignment with a recent Supreme Court of Maryland opinion on the limits of the county’s authority to regulate firearms.  

“This truly is back to the theme of today: housekeeping, fixing gaps,” said Councilmember Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7), who sponsored the bill. “The sole purpose of this bill is to bring into conformity our local laws that were passed by the prior council to match what was issued in the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision.”  

Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-large) was the sole councilmember to vote against the bill after asking council staff how it would be enforced and raising concerns about the potential for over policing of some communities.  

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“I’m just wondering how a law enforcement officer or someone would know that I’m carrying a concealed weapon unless they stop and frisk me,” Sayles said. “I’m just concerned that this may lead to greater surveillance of everyday citizens.” 

In April 2021, the Montgomery County Council passed a law effectively banning ghost guns, which it defined as firearms lacking a serial number “engraved or cased in metal alloy on the frame or receiver by a licensed manufacturer, maker or importer.” 

Nine plaintiffs challenged that law in May 2021 with Engage Armament LLC, et al. v. Montgomery County, Maryland. 

In November 2022, the council passed another law preventing people — including state wear-and-carry permit holders — from possessing, selling, transferring or transporting firearms generally within 100 yards of a “place of public assembly.”  This law also became part of the Engage Armament LLC, et al. v. Montgomery County, Maryland case. 

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The case made it to the Supreme Court of Maryland. The county is within its rights to restrict ghost guns, the state Supreme Court wrote in an April 28 opinion, however, those restrictions can’t apply to firearms made without a serial number that are later serialized by federally licensed firearms dealers.    

The state Supreme Court also found that the county does not have the authority under state law to restrict guns in and around certain places such as hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities and childcare facilities.   

Now, the county’s definition of a “place of public assembly” will no longer include hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities and childcare facilities. Gun regulation in those places falls to the state.  

People will still be prohibited from bringing guns within 100 yards of a park, place of worship, school, library, recreational facility, multipurpose exhibition facility, polling place, courthouse or legislative assembly.

The bill added an exemption for “the possession of a handgun by a person who has a permit to carry the handgun under state law while the person travels on public highways within 100 yards of a place of public assembly.”  

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The county’s gun restrictions will still apply to wear-and-carry permit holders who come within 100 yards of a “place of public assembly” via private drives or by another mode of transportation.  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine