Key Takeaways
- The NSSF plans to sue if Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs a bill banning certain striker-fired handguns.
- Maryland Senate Bill 334 and House Bill 577 prohibit the sale and transfer of semiautomatic pistols defined as ‘machine gun convertible pistols’.
- NSSF argues the bills punish law-abiding citizens instead of targeting criminals who illegally modify firearms.
- The legislation raises Second Amendment issues regarding the state’s ability to ban commonly owned handguns.
- Maryland gun owners are advised to stay informed and consult attorneys regarding the final list of prohibited models.
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ANNAPOLIS, MD – The National Shooting Sports Foundation has announced plans to file a lawsuit if Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs legislation that would ban the sale of certain striker-fired handguns, including many of the most popular pistols on the market today.
NSSF, the firearm industry’s trade association, issued the warning on April 20, 2026. The statement directly addresses Maryland Senate Bill 334 and House Bill 577, both of which passed the legislature earlier this month. The bills would prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, purchase, receipt, and transfer of semiautomatic pistols the state defines as “machine gun convertible pistols.”
The targeted firearms are striker-fired handguns built with a cruciform trigger bar. Maryland lawmakers argue these designs can be illegally modified with a machine gun conversion device, or MCD, to function as a fully automatic weapon. MCDs are already a felony under federal law. Under the National Firearms Act, possession or installation of an MCD carries up to 10 years in federal prison and fines reaching $250,000.
Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, said the bills punish law-abiding citizens instead of focusing on the criminals who illegally modify firearms. Borrowing a line from political strategist James Carville, Keane said “it’s the criminal, stupid.”
Keane pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Heller decision, which affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms in common use, as the foundation of NSSF’s legal argument. He warned that if Moore signs the legislation, NSSF will take Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown to court to defend the rights of Maryland gun owners.
The bill would direct the Maryland Department of State Police to publish a list of prohibited models. According to NSSF, that list would include the same handguns currently carried by Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department. Law enforcement officers are exempted from the proposed prohibition. The ban would take effect January 1, 2027.
NSSF also used the statement to remind gun owners that modifying a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic one is a serious federal crime. The organization’s “Right Side of Legal” campaign continues to warn the public that importing, making, selling, or possessing an MCD is a federal felony under the National Firearms Act.
A Second Amendment Issue Worth Watching
This legislation raises a core Second Amendment question. Can a state ban an entire category of the most commonly owned handguns in America because a small number of criminals choose to illegally modify them? The Supreme Court’s Heller ruling held that firearms in common use for lawful purposes are constitutionally protected. Striker-fired pistols with cruciform trigger bars are among the most widely owned handguns in the country.
For armed citizens, the legal fight ahead matters well beyond Maryland. Similar legislation has already passed in California, and other states are weighing comparable measures. Whether Maryland’s law is struck down or upheld, the outcome will shape how aggressively other states move against popular carry guns going forward.
What Maryland Gun Owners Should Do Now
Maryland residents who currently own one of these handguns are not required to surrender them under the bill as written. Existing owners may continue to possess their firearms and may still transfer them to immediate family members.
Anyone in Maryland who owns a striker-fired pistol should watch the Maryland State Police rulemaking process closely once the law takes effect. The final list of prohibited models will be set by regulation, not by the statute alone. Gun owners with questions about their specific firearm should consult a Maryland-based firearms attorney.
