Report: Maryland Has Nation's 4th-Toughest Gun Laws

The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence rank Maryland No. 4 on their list of states with the toughest gun laws.

The report, titled "2013 Scorecard: Why Gun Laws Matter," ranks Maryland with an A-, joining New Jersey, Connecticut and California with that letter grade. The top-five scoring states are: No. 1 California, No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 New Jersey, No. 4 New York and Massachusetts in fifth place.

In 2013, the Maryland legislature enacted new laws that relate to firearms. The new law: strengthens the assault weapon ban, bans large capacity ammunition magazines, provides a mechanism to remove firearms from unstable individuals, regulates ammunition possession, requires a handgun license, requires registration for new residents, and requires lost or stolen firearm reporting, the study says.

Neighboring Virginia received a D, while Delaware earned a B- by the study, whose results were released Monday.

Vincent DeMarco, president of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence, told the Baltimore Sun that passage of the new law puts Maryland in the top ranks of gun-restricting states. He said the new licensing and fingerprinting requirement was the main reason Maryland moved into the top ranks from its spot at No. 7 last year.

The National Rifle Association is backing a federal lawsuit brought by individuals and groups opposed to the law, which they regard as an infringement on Second Amendment rights, the Sun says. The law passed the General Assembly in the spring despite massive protests against the legislation by gun rights advocates.