Derwood, MD (August 6, 2026).- The Montgomery County Council (“County Council”) is again overreaching in its powers, defying common sense, and going against law-abiding gun owners. The County Council signed Bill 23-26 into law on Jul 21, 2026 under the guise of public safety, but is already facing pushback from the Department of Justice and religious groups in the county.
Bill 23-26, sponsored by District 7 Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, expands the list of locations designated as “sensitive places” where lawful firearm carry is prohibited, including for individuals who have obtained Maryland wear-and-carry permits after completing state-mandated training and background checks. Maldonado commented on this bill, stating:
“The passage of this bill reinforces the fact that the council is overreaching again for the sake of its own political purposes rather than looking at the real and important issues residents care about and limiting lawful gun owners’ ability to exercise their constitutional protected right.”
Moreover, Bill 23-26 raises serious questions under the Second Amendment, particularly in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which requires firearm regulations to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. Critics of the bill argue that broad expansions of restricted locations may exceed those constitutional boundaries and place undue burdens on law-abiding citizens exercising their rights.
The legislation has already become the subject of legal scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated litigation challenging aspects of Maryland’s firearm carry restrictions, and a Montgomery County synagogue has also filed suit, arguing that the law interferes with both constitutional rights and the ability of religious institutions to determine appropriate security measures for their congregations.
“Who are the council and Luedtke trying to fool?” said Harold Maldonado, “it’s abundantly obvious that Luedtke’s actions follow an agenda by Maryland Democrats that seeks to undermine and eventually get rid of the Second Amendment. We see this kid of bills/legislations in blue jurisdictions and the whole council has been pushing these types of bills for years.”
Bill 23-26 is unlikely to reduce gun crime because individuals who commit violent crimes generally do not comply with firearm restrictions. The legislation primarily affects licensed permit holders rather than criminals who illegally possess firearms. While research on the effectiveness of location-based firearm restrictions is mixed, critics maintain that the bill burdens lawful gun owners without producing measurable public safety benefits.
As it passed and became county law, Bill 23-26 prohibits possessing, selling, transferring, or transporting most firearms (including handguns, rifles, shotguns, and ghost guns) in or within 100 yards of places of public assembly, which include parks, places of worship, schools, libraries, recreational facilities, multipurpose exhibition facilities, certain government buildings open to the public, polling places, courthouses, and legislative assemblies (plus associated property such as parking lots), with limited exceptions such as for permitted carriers traveling on public highways.
Maldonado concluded by stating, “as a former intelligence officer, I’ve seen these laws are passed to allow for mass casualty events to occur as they protect criminals carrying guns in public spaces and leave the public unable to protect or defend itself. County residents need to seriously consider who they’re going to vote for in November as the County Council continues to overreach and undermine public safety.”
Harold Maldonado is running for County Council, District 7 and in on the ballot for November’s elections representing the Republican Party.
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Maldonado for Council