A Maryland county’s sweeping gun ban has left an Orthodox synagogue’s armed guards unable to protect their congregation on the way to Sabbath and holiday services, according to a new court filing.
uncertain
ban → leave → filing
Under a court order, they can carry inside the synagogue, but they can’t legally walk there armed on the Sabbath.
asserted
they → carry → Sabbath
On Tuesday, Silver Spring Jewish Center and Rabbi J. Menashe Shapiro asked the Fourth Circuit to stop Montgomery County from enforcing its ban on firearms within 100 yards of any “place of public assembly” while they walk between home and synagogue.
asserted
they → ask → home
The synagogue is represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
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synagogue → represent → Liberty
Shapiro is representing himself.
asserted
Shapiro → represent → himself
The law, Expedited Bill 23-26, was enacted July 27.
asserted
law → enact → ?
It bars anyone from possessing or carrying guns in or within 100 yards of parks, schools, libraries, government buildings, polling places, and houses of worship.
asserted
It → bar → worship
Here’s the catch: Permit holders can still drive their handguns through those same zones.
asserted
holders → ’ → zones
Orthodox Jews can’t drive on the Sabbath, so they have to walk.
asserted
they → drive → Sabbath
According to the filing, the only route between Shapiro’s home and the synagogue takes him within 100 yards of four schools, two parks and three other houses of worship.
uncertain
route → accord → worship
It says threats have grown since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
asserted
threats → say → Israel
In October 2024, a Jewish member was attacked just outside the building.
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member → attack → building
In June 2026, an unknown person tried to get inside.
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person → try → June
The synagogue relies on an armed volunteer security team, and every member is licensed to carry under Maryland law.
asserted
member → rely → law
The suit says that’s partly a religious duty, as Talmudic and later religious sources command Jews to proactively provide their own security.
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Talmudic → say → security
In September, Senior U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to win their challenge to the ban inside houses of worship.
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plaintiffs → rule → worship
She blocked it, but only for handguns and only inside their own synagogue.
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She → block → synagogue
She left the 100-yard rule in place, ruling that the plaintiffs had not shown it was unconstitutional in every application.
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it → leave → application
That left congregants allowed to carry inside the synagogue but unable to legally carry a gun to the front door.
asserted
That → leave → door
The filing says the buffer “prohibits members from even approaching the synagogue while armed.”
asserted
buffer → say → synagogue
The lawyers also take aim at the county’s argument to justify the buffer zone.
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lawyers → take → zone
Under the Supreme Court’s Bruen test, gun laws must match the nation’s historical tradition.
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laws → match → tradition
The county offered historical precedents, such as an 1837 Maryland wild fowl law, which barred guns near a hunting blind only “with intent to shoot or molest any wild fowl.”
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which → offer → fowl
Another was an 1859 Connecticut law, which the filing notes “regulated the sale of liquor, not firearms.”
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filing → note → liquor
The filing points out that the county told the lower court it did “not oppose Plaintiffs’ request for preliminary injunctive relief as to the Buffer Zone specifically surrounding SSJC.”
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it → point → SSJC
The judge denied that relief anyway, without addressing the county’s concession.
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judge → deny → concession
According to the filing, a licensed driver “may idle or park beside a school or house of worship as long as he likes,” but a congregant on foot can’t walk past.
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congregant → accord → foot
Gun owners can also walk armed past fraternal lodges, stores and restaurants, none of which are covered.
asserted
none → walk → which
The suit adds that Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park and the federal school-zone law all exempt permit holders.
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Baltimore → add → holders
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