Can Government Disarm a Synagogue?
Show notes
In this episode of Unwritten Law, NCLA President and Chief Legal Officer Mark Chenoweth and Senior Litigation Counsel John Vecchione are joined by Senior Litigation Counsel Jacob Huebert to discuss NCLA's newly filed lawsuit challenging Montgomery County, Maryland's ban on firearms in places of worship and within 100 yards of numerous public gathering places.
The case, Silver Spring Jewish Center v. Montgomery County, was filed just days after the ordinance took effect. NCLA argues that the law violates the Second Amendment by making it nearly impossible for law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to bear arms while also interfering with the synagogue's ability to protect its congregation.
Jacob explains why the lawsuit also raises significant First Amendment concerns. The Silver Spring Jewish Center believes that members of its congregation should provide security during worship, consistent with its religious beliefs and practices. NCLA argues that the county's ordinance unlawfully burdens both the free exercise of religion and the autonomy of religious institutions.
The discussion also examines the Supreme Court's recent decision in Wolford v. Lopez, the meaning of "sensitive places" under the Second Amendment, and why NCLA believes Montgomery County has gone far beyond the constitutional limits recognized by the Court.