Governor Larry Hogan today vetoed a bill that would have closed the gun sale loophole. Background checks are required at gun shops, but not at gun shows or between individuals. Dangerous people who shouldn’t have guns can continue to buy them simply by avoiding gun stores.
The bill
- Senate Bill 208 / House Bill 4 requires all gun sales and exchanges among individuals undergo a background check. 👍
March 18, 2020
Maryland: Firearm crime reporting becomes law
- HB 1629 requires the Attorney General to report on gun crimes to the Governor.
March 31, 2020
Maryland: Gun stores and firing ranges exposing shooters to the virus
Governor Larry Hogan declared gun stores and shooting ranges as essential during the coronavirus emergency ignoring both gun safety and public health.
Keeping gun stores open ignores public safety for two reasons:
- The purpose of closing businesses is to stop the virus spread. Every type of business left open increases the spread of the virus.
- Gun groups try to frighten citizens into fears of public panic. The subtle message they use is, you need a gun to protect your family from those desperate for food. Now is the perfect time to frighten the public to buy more guns, but they need the gun business to churn away as normal to sell those guns.
The NRA should watch statistics to see if pro-gun fanatics get the coronavirus at a higher rate. After all, their leaving their home unnecessarily to buy guns at a gun store or shoot at a gun range.
March 18, 2020
Maryland: The General Assembly adjourned early from their 2020 session
The regular Maryland General Assembly ended their 2020 regular session early because of the threat of the Covid 19 virus.
March 17, 2020
Maryland: Universal Background check bill before Governor
The Maryland Legislature passed HB4, a bill to require all exchanges of guns be subject to background checks. The bill now goes to the Governor for final signature.
It doesn’t make any sense to require background checks for gun store purchases and not for gun show purposes. This bill closes that loophole.
NRA strategy
The pro-gun group asked their members to contact the Governor asking him to oppose this bill. Their members will do that, so concerned citizens need to support the Governor in approving of this bill.
The bill
- House Bill 4 closes the background check loophole that currently allows guns to be sold on the street with no background check required. All sales between individuals would require a background check. 👍 Like
Action
Please call or email the office of Governor Larry Hogan and urge him to sign House Bill 4 to close the background check loophole.
- To find your representative and senator’s phone and email, enter your address at Common Cause.
- Adding a simple message from the heart is powerful. Keep it simple and make it personal if possible. Make sure you include your full name and address.
March 9, 2020
Maryland: Two more gun safety bills before committee Wednesday
On Wednesday, March 10, the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee will consider a “right to privacy” addition to the constitution. Additionally, another bill requires the reporting of gun thefts.
NRA strategy
The NRA objects to the “right to privacy” provision because it included language to regulate firearms. The NRA alerted their members to contact the committee and oppose these bills.
The bills
Senate Bill 644 amends the Rhode Island Constitution to include “freedom from government intrusion.” It also states that: “the right to privacy does not prohibit the state from regulating the sale or purchase of a firearm or ammunition.” 👍 Like
Senate Bill 1050 / House Bill 591 requires gun owners to report the loss or theft of guns with 72 hours of discovering them missing. 👍 Like
Action
Please email the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee at: aa_jpr@mlis.state.md.us. Ask for support of SB 644, SB 1050 and HB 591.
- To find your representative and senator’s phone and email, enter your address at Common Cause.
- Adding a simple message from the heart is powerful. Keep it simple and make it personal if possible. Make sure you include your full name and address.
March 2, 2020
Maryland: Two gun bills before committees this week
This week, two committees will each vote on a gun safety bill of significance. The House Judicial Proceeding Committee will vote on banning 3D and ghost guns. The house Judiciary Committee will vote on requiring the reporting of gun theft.
The problem with 3D and ghost guns is they are undetectable by X-Ray machines. The importance of reporting gun loss is to help trace guns left unsecured that end up on the street and are used for crimes.
NRA strategy to fight gun safety
The NRA alerted their members to contact these two committees and oppose these bills. Gun violence prevention supporter need to counteract their efforts with our own advocacy.
The bills
Bill before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
- House Bill 910 bans 3-D printed guns. It also bans “undetectable guns” or “ghost guns.” [Good]
Bill before the House Judiciary Committee
- House Bill 591 requires the reporting of the loss or theft of a gun within 72 hours of discovering them missing. [Good]
Action
Please email the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee at: aa_jpr@mlis.state.md.us. Ask for support of HB 910. Also, email the House Judiciary Committee at: aa_jud@mlis.state.md.us. Ask for support of HB 591.
February 26, 2020
Maryland: Three gun safety bills have hearings today
Often, gun bill hearing notices come out at the last minute. Today, two committees with hear bills to regulate gun violence. You can still contact the committee on these bills because it is not known when they will vote.
NRA strategy
Then NRA alerted their members to contact the House Judiciary committee and the House Appropriations Committee on these bills. They apparently thought it too short of a notice to ask for attendance at the meetings.
Gun control supporters have an opportunity to counteract the NRA members calls by supporting these bills.
The bills
- House Bill 910 bans 3-D printed guns. It also bans “undetectable guns” or “ghost guns.” [Good]
- House Bill 1257 and Senate Bill 816 requires gun dealers to keep certain electronic and video records of gun sales. [Good]
- House Bill 1078 prohibits a local school board paying for the arming of teachers or training in firearms. [Good]
Action
Please call or email the office of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee, aa_jud@mlis.state.md.us, (410) 841-3488. Ask for support of House Bill 910 and 1257. Also, please call the office of the Maryland House Appropriations Committee, aa_app@mlis.state.md.us, (410) 841-3407. Ask for support of HB 1078.
February 23, 2020
Maryland: Expansion of assault weapons ban needs support
The NRA is already worried about a new bill to add to the list of already banned assault weapons. The Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a hearing yet, but they already alerted members to contact the committee.
Gun control supporters can help counteract NRA member’s calls and emails by adding our own voice, but in support of this bill.
The bill
- House Bill 1261 expands the list of assault weapons that are already banned in Maryland. 👍
Action
Please call or email the office of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee, aa_jud@mlis.state.md.us, (410) 841-3488. Ask for support of House Bill 1261 to ban all assault weapons from the streets of Maryland.
February 20, 2020
Maryland: Universal background check bill added to committee agenda
Tomorrow, February 21, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to vote on a universal background check bill. Currently, the only gun sales that must undergo this check are those at a gun dealer.
The NRA asked their members to contact the committee members. Please contact the committee chairman asking for the committee’s support of this important gun control bill.
The bill
- Senate Bill 208 / House Bill 4 requires all gun sales and exchanges among individuals undergo a background check. 👍
Action
Please call or email the office of the Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Senator William C. Smith Jr. will.smith@senate.state.md.us. Urge the Committee to support SB 208 so all gun sales undergo a background check.
February 19, 2020
Maryland: Two hearings on gun control bills this week
Nearly every day, children are killed by guns left carelessly around the house. HB 636/SB 646 would strengthen the laws regarding the proper storage of firearms to keep children away from loaded guns.
SB 816 would require gun dealers to keep better records of gun sales. The NRA calls these requirements onerous. I’ve followed their website for years and I’ve never read of any concern for the safety of children. They only want to help gun dealers sell guns cheaper.
The bills
- House Bill 636/Senate Bill 646 would strengthen the storage requirements for firearms. 👍
- Senate Bill 816 would require gun dealers to keep certain electronic and video records of gun sales. 👍
Action
Please email the office of the Chair of the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee, Delegate Luke H. Clippinger, luke.clippinger@house.state.md.us. Urge the Committee to support House Bill 636.
Also, email the office of the Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Senator William C. Smith Jr. will.smith@senate.state.md.us. Urge the Committee to support Senate Bill 646 and Senate Bill 816.
January 31, 2020
Maryland: Handgun Permit Review Board eliminated
This week, the legislature overrode Governor Hogan’s veto of HB 1343/SB 1000. This gun control bill eliminates the Handgun Permit Review Board. Gun owners could appeal to this board if they were denied a firearm carry permit.
Because this board was appointed by Governor, he could appoint gun proponents who would approve almost every application. A denial of a permit was too often overturned. Those denied a permit still can appeal, only the process is a little more inconvenient. Once again, the NRA works for gun owner convenience, not gun violence prevention.
The bill
- House Bill 1343 / Senate Bill 1000 eliminates the Handgun Permit Review Board. 👍
Action
No action needed. This bill now becomes law.
January 14, 2020
Maryland: Hearings tomorrow (Jan 15) on multiple gun control bills
Three gun violence prevention bills will be heard by committees tomorrow. The notice from the NRA to their members came out today. They gave members a button to click to send messages to each committee urging them not to vote for the bills.
The bills
- House Bill 4 closes the background check loophole that currently allows guns to be sold on the street with no background check required. All sales between individuals would require a background check. House Judiciary Committee hearing. 👍
- Senate Bill 39 would add two guns to the list of regulated firearms: Anderson Manufacturing .223 Caliber AM-15 and .300 Caliber AM-15. Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing. 👍
- Senate Bill 55 would begin a gun buyback program in Maryland. Senate Budget and Taxation Committee hearing. 👍
Action
I cannot offer a button to submit messages to each committee member as the NRA does. It isn’t easy, but hopefully gun control people will also send messages to members asking them to support these bills.
