The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on Monday, August 3, 2026, against Montgomery County, Maryland, over a law that prohibits carrying firearms within 100 yards of multiple locations, including churches.

Democratic Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed Bill 23-26 into law on July 27, 2026. This legislation updated the county’s ordinances following an April 28 ruling by the Maryland state Supreme Court that struck down some previous firearm carrying restrictions.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter to Montgomery County warning that the provisions barring firearms from thousands of locations—even those that previously allowed carrying firearms—violate the Second Amendment. Dhillon stated, “Congregants have a right to protect themselves and their community. The Second Amendment doesn’t stop at the church door.”

The DOJ complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, specifically challenges the firearm restrictions in many locations, notably churches, referencing the Supreme Court’s decision in Wolford v. Lopez, which invalidated a similar law in Hawaii.

Dhillon further criticized the county, saying, “Montgomery County makes it almost impossible for a law-abiding citizen with a valid carry license to walk down the street and avoid these exclusion zones. The Civil Rights Division will not stand idle while Montgomery County tramples the rights guaranteed to law-abiding citizens by the Second Amendment.”

The DOJ’s action highlights concerns about vulnerability during worship services, recalling a December 2019 incident in Texas where an armed parishioner fatally shot an assailant who opened fire at the West Freeway Church of Christ, killing two church security members.

Sources