RICHMOND, VA (August 6, 2024) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has issued a highly flawed en banc (full court) decision on the merits upholding Maryland’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” in Bianchi v. Brown, an FPC Second Amendment strategic lawsuit filed in December 2020. The opinion can be found at firearmspolicy.org/bianchi.

“FPC will take the Fourth Circuit’s terrible decision to the Supreme Court without delay. Our objective is simple: End all bans on so-called ‘assault weapons’ nationwide. And we look forward to doing just that,” said FPC President Brandon Combs.

The Bianchi case is part of FPC’s high-impact FPC Law strategic litigation program to eliminate immoral laws and create a world of maximal liberty. FPC is joined in the litigation by three individual FPC members, a Maryland firearms retailer, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case from a pre-judgment posture. However, this will be the first petition for certiorari in a case regarding “assault weapons” from a final judgment since the Court ruled in Bruen in 2022.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube.