Winning on gun decisions, for a change

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has declined to hear an appeal from the NRA of a 2013 Maryland ban on assault weapons.   The Appeals Court, whose decision was being appealed, said it has "no power to extend constitutional protections to weapons of war."

If SCOTUS declines to hear an appeal, the lower court ruling stands.   Thus Maryland's ban of assault weapons remains the law of that state.  Last year SCOTUS also left in place assault weapons bans in New York and Connecticut.

SCOTUS also declined to hear an appeal from a Florida man who was convicted of openly carrying a firearm,   His permit to carry a concealed weapon did not include the right to open-carry.  The decision under appeal was from the Florida Supreme Court, which had ruled that the state's open-carry ban does not violate the right to bear arms.

Both of these appeals were backed by the NRA lobby.   And they lost.  Is the court shifting?    It's great to be on the winning side on gun control cases for a change.

Ralph