Md. crime victim sues over denial to renew permit to carry concealed handgun

Washington Post ^ | August 15, 2010 | Frederick Kunkle

[La Lydia]

On a snowy Christmas Eve a few years ago, Raymond E. Woollard was watching television with his family when he heard someone tapping at the windows of his Baltimore County farmhouse. It was not Santa. At the sound of breaking glass, Woollard dashed to his bedroom for a shotgun...There was a hand-to-hand struggle for the weapon, but Woollard, with help from his adult son, eventually subdued the 6-foot-2, 155-pound intruder at gunpoint. Then they waited for more than an hour for police to find their way, on icy back roads, to the home, about 25 miles south of the Pennsylvania border.

That night made Woollard...one of a select few Maryland residents to receive a license to carry a concealed handgun. But to Woollard's surprise, Maryland State Police denied his request last year to renew the permit, saying they thought the danger to his life had passed.

The agency said it was "because I hadn't been attacked" again, Woollard said in an interview. "They said, 'If you have any problems, you let us know.' "

Instead, Woollard filed a federal lawsuit July 29 to get his permit back, becoming the first person to challenge Maryland's gun control laws in the wake of two landmark Supreme Court decisions that have recalibrated the battle over gun rights and opened the doors to such challenges nationwide. The first, District of Columbia v. Heller, recognized individuals' Second Amendment right to own firearms and struck down the federal city's 32-year-old ban on handguns; the second, McDonald v. Chicago, held that the right also applies to other state and local governments.

Woollard, 62, of the Hampstead area, contends that the right to bear a firearm for self-defense is so paramount that a state agency should not be able to arbitrarily deny it...

[La Lydia]

The guy who broke into his house received an 18-month suspended sentence and three years' probation -- and lives three miles away from him to this day.

[Palter]

The fact that you need a ‘permit’ is a crime, committed by Gov’t.

[WayneS]

6’ 2” and 155 lbs?

Did he climb in through the mail slot?

[La Lydia]

Not unless the mail slot was covered in glass.

[WayneS]

SOME of us, often referred to as Gun Nuts by the Criminals'-Rights-Come-First crowd, think the Constitution should be the only firearms 'permit' anyone ever needs.

[WayneS]

Not necessarily — he might have been smashing windows in his spare time...

[umgud]

In practice, the RKBA is actually a privilege handed out at the discretion of the ruling class (for much of America).

[Savage Beast]

This is an open invitation to criminals: "Go ahead. Break in. The Law prevents homeowners from protecting themselves--and their families! So take whatever you want. And do whatever you want to the wife and kiddies--not to mention the man!"

How Decadent can America get?

Answer: There is no lower limit!

"Then they waited for more than an hour for police to find their way"

When a Leftist houseguest learned that I have an arsenal of guns in my house, she remarked with alarm: "Oh! I think such things are best left to the police!"

My wife replied: "Out here in The Middle of Nowhere? I don't think so."

[ConservaTexan]

“...from my cold, dead hands.”

[andy58-in-nh]

Maryland is currently among the 10 most restrictive states regarding right to carry.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Woollard should have included a reliance on the popular 14th amendment the Court has use to limit the power of the States.

[VOA]

“
But to Woollard’s surprise, Maryland State Police denied his request last year
to renew the permit, saying they thought the danger to his life had passed.
“

234 after The Declaration of Independence...
we still have to deal with “The Power of The Crown”.

Disgusting is the most sanitized term I can think of to describe this situation.

[VOA]

“
...Woollard, with help from his adult son, eventually subdued the 6-foot-2,
155-pound intruder at gunpoint...
“

This is one of those accounts that feeds a conspiratorial theory of mine.

If Mr. Wollard and son had been killed by this home-invader, it would
have generated a LOT MORE WORK for the local police, forensic pathologist,
judges, court bailiff, etc.

Thus guaranteeing employment for a bunch of “public servants”.

Being armed and ready to repel invaders...there’s just not as much
work to justify employment of some of these “public servants”.

(And NO, I’m not anti-police and justice system. It just shouldn’t
be a growth industry.)

[upcountryhorseman]

Also, in these rural areas, it takes a long time (45 minutes
in my couty) for police to arrive on the scene.

[Godzilla]

Then they waited for more than an hour for police to find their way, on icy back roads, to the home, about 25 miles south of the Pennsylvania border.

In this case the Second Amendment is there when seconds count and the police are HOURS away.

[longtermmemmory]

there was a female (is?) sherriff in Mass. who said that no men will be allowed to have a concealed weapon permit because she believes men are the cause of crime.

No sherriff should have this discretion.

In fact the whole country should be open carry with limited exceptions. (ie jails)