SILVER SPRING, Md. (July 31, 2026) — Federal justice officials have issued a direct warning to local government leaders in Montgomery County, Maryland, threatening immediate legal action if the municipality enforces a newly passed ordinance prohibiting firearms in and around places of worship.
The federal intervention arrived alongside a major civil lawsuit filed in federal court by an Frum Shul in Silver Spring. The Silver Spring Jewish Center is seeking an emergency court injunction to block the local restriction, arguing that prohibiting trained congregants and volunteer security members from carrying firearms leaves religious institutions undefended against potential violence.
Legal documents submitted by the congregation highlight that traditional religious obligations require community members to actively safeguard their institutions, particularly following a series of recent safety incidents and a documented rise in regional antisemitic threats…