“We will be there every step of the way for our clients.”
About Roland
Roland S. Harris IV has spent his entire career in law standing up for those who need his help the most. As a student at University of Baltimore School of Law, Roland focused on constitutional law. It was a clerkship with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender that changed his direction and ultimately the lives of his clients. After spending time focused on investigating cases and building case files, working on crimes from drug distribution to murder, Roland became a defense attorney after graduating in 2006. Since then, he has defended people who are accused of all types of crimes ranging from trespassing to murder. He has traveled throughout the state trying cases at district and circuit courts as well as successfully arguing appellate cases in Maryland’s Appeals courts.
In 2011, Roland was part of the charge to declare the Baltimore City Gun Registry unconstitutional, even writing several of the briefs that were heard in Circuit Court. Due to the arguments in Roland’s briefs, lawmakers made significant changes to the law which helped several of his clients.
These three things are all too common… Watch the video below to see three mistakes people make all the time, and for help, get in touch with us by calling 888-585-7979.
View the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network questions with Roland S. Harris IV’s answers.
Roland is the author of the Maryland Use of Force Handbook – co-authored by his law partner Martin E. Cohen and with a foreword by Mark Pennak – President of Maryland Shall Issue.
Roland S. Harris IV testifying in support of HB777 in front of the Maryland General Assembly – Judicial Committee in 2025. Maryland’s law should state what is already the practice – that expungements are no longer convictions. Roland’s testimony begins at 4:07:06.
The Case for Restoring Firearm Rights and Funding the ATF Program – 18 USC 925(c)
Under Maryland law, Public Safety §5-306 allows an individual to carry a firearm, provided it is concealed. This permit is commonly referred to as a Concealed Carry Permit, a Wear Carry Permit or simply a CCW. While this law grants the right to carry in most places, there are certain locations in Maryland where firearms are strictly prohibited under Maryland Criminal Law §4-111.
To qualify for a CCW under Maryland Public Safety §5-306, individuals must meet specific requirements, including having a criminal record that does not violate the terms of Maryland Law. (See Maryland Public Safety §5-306 as well as §§5-101 and 5-133) However, a person who does not initially qualify may have their right to carry restored by obtaining relief under 18 U.S.C. §925(c). This federal statute allows individuals to petition for the restoration of their firearm rights.
Unfortunately, 18 U.S.C. §925(c) exists in only in law but not in practice. Since 1992, the federal government has refused to fund the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) program that assesses whether applicants meet the criteria for relief under 18 U.S.C. §925(c). As a result, no one has been able to utilize this pathway for over three decades.
It is time to reinstate the ATF’s funding for this program. Across the nation, there is a growing recognition that providing individuals with a means to clear their records and regain their rights is essential. Offering a legitimate path to redemption not only benefits individuals but also strengthens communities by encouraging lawful behavior and reintegration into society. In Maryland we have been able to greatly expand expungement laws to the benefit of thousands of Marylanders and their families.
We know that when people are denied opportunities to move forward in life, they may become discouraged from seeking legal remedies. In some cases, this could even lead to extrajudicial actions. A system that allows for the restoration of rights promotes fairness and reinforces trust in the legal process. It is a tough pill to swallow that Congress thought enough about this to draft and pass 18 U.S.C. §925(c) and subsequent legislators, for what whatever reason, simply refuse to fund a program that was intended to help people redeem themselves.
Therefore, funding for 18 U.S.C. §925(c) must be restored. The failure of the federal government to allocate resources to this program is well-documented, and further details on this issue can be found on the ATF’s website. A link to their notice is provided below.
By Roland S. Harris IV, Esq.
Senior Partner – COHEN|HARRIS LLC
Co-Author of the Maryland Use of Force Handbook