U.S. Court Allows Synagogue Members to Carry Firearms

Washington, D.C., Sept. 10, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction allowing members of the Silver Spring Jewish Center to carry firearms within their synagogue, effectively halting a ban imposed by Montgomery County, Maryland. The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) brought the lawsuit on behalf of the synagogue and its members, challenging the county’s recently-imposed Expedited Bill 23-26, which includes a ban on firearms in places of worship and within 100 yards of any place of public assembly.

The court’s decision is a significant victory for the synagogue and its members, as it upholds their right to self-defense in their place of worship. The injunction stops Montgomery County authorities from enforcing the ban on carrying firearms in a place of worship, pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation. The court ruled that the ban likely violates both the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.

NCLA argues that the ban on firearms in places of worship also violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause by making decisions in place of religious leaders. Additionally, the law is seen as discriminatory, as it deprives the Jewish community and others of equal protection under the law by targeting religious practices, a Fourteenth Amendment violation. The court declined to rule on these issues in today’s order.

While the injunction provides temporary relief, NCLA remains committed to permanently blocking the enforcement of both the ban on firearms in places of worship and the ban on firearms within 100 yards of places of public assembly. The organization’s litigation aims to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans’ fundamental rights.

The case highlights the ongoing debate over gun rights and religious freedom, with the ruling potentially setting a precedent for similar challenges across the country. As the lawsuit continues, the Silver Spring Jewish Center and its members can now legally carry firearms within their place of worship, pending the final outcome of the legal proceedings.