Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Maryland Gun Permit Requirement

A federal ruling striking down part of Maryland's requirements to obtain a permit to carry a handgun won't go into effect next week after all.

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Wednesday granted the state's request to delay an order issued last week by U.S. District Court Judge Benson Everett Legg.

The appeals court ordered that state requirements on those seeking a permit to carry a gun must have "a good or substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun, such as a finding that the permit is necessary as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger" remain in effect until an appeals hearing the week of Oct. 23.

Legg struck down the requirement earlier this year and on his ruling pending an appeal.

The appeal is part of a suit filed in July 2010 after Robert Woollard was denied a permit to carry a gun. The federal court ultimately ruled the "good and substantial reason" requirement was unconstitutional and the Maryland State Police were ordered to process Woollard's application without applying that standard.