By 5 Towns Central Staff

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.

The controversy follows local legislation enacted earlier this week that updated county weapons regulations to bar firearms within 100 yards of public facilities, including houses of worship, parks, and schools. Federal legal officials sent formal correspondence to county executive leadership, the county attorney, and local law enforcement chiefs, asserting that disarming worshippers infringes upon their basic ability to defend themselves during potential armed attacks. The federal communication set a strict deadline for county officials to pledge non-enforcement at religious sites or face a civil rights lawsuit.

Attorneys representing the Silver Spring congregation expressed strong support for the federal position, affirming their readiness to join federal prosecutors in challenging the county measure. Opponents of the local law contend that restricting law-abiding citizens from protecting religious assemblies violates key constitutional rights regarding the free exercise of religion and self-defense. County authorities have not yet indicated whether they intend to modify or suspend enforcement of the measure.