BELLEVUE, WA - A generous $10,000 contribution to the Second Amendment Foundation's continuing legal efforts to roll back onerous gun laws across the country, including the state of Maryland, has been announced by Maryland Shall Issue (MSI), a grassroots gun rights organization.

"We are grateful and humbled by the Maryland Shall Issue contribution," said SAF Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. "This single donation will greatly support our on-going legal battles to restore lost gun rights, one lawsuit at a time."

In an e-mail announcement to its members, MSI noted, "This is one of the times where we must stand up as a community and demonstrate our commitment to supporting those that are supporting us. In this case, we want to support the SAF."

On July 29, SAF filed a lawsuit in Maryland on behalf of Baltimore County resident Raymond Woollard, challenging the denial of his gun permit renewal in 2009 on the grounds that he could not demonstrate "a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger."

"Although our lawsuit complaint cannot be amended," Gottlieb announced, "we are making Maryland Shall Issue an honorary plaintiff. We simply cannot amply express our gratitude to MSI members for their generosity."

MSI held a general members' meeting on Sunday in Annapolis to announce the contribution. Traditionally, the organization has asked for member donations only once each year, during membership renewals in September.

"Maryland's contribution comes at a critical time for us," Gottlieb stated. "We will use this money wisely, to get the biggest legal bang for every buck."

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.