Maryland: Multiple Gun-Bills on the Move in the Legislature

On Monday, March 20, the Maryland Senate is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 946.  It is important that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters contact their state Senator and politely urge them to support committee amendments to SB 946.

Senate Bill 946, an anti-gun bill sponsored by Senator Smith, creates a federally prohibitive criminal penalty for the possession of a firearm on a college campus in Maryland.  Those with wear and carry permits do not present a threat to public safety, as they are one of the most law-abiding segments of the population.  Current law already allows each university to set its own policy regarding the carrying or possession of firearms.  This legislation is a blanket prohibition that disallows schools from using discretion on their campus. 

If adopted, the committee amendments would change the penalty of bringing a firearm onto a college campus from a prohibitive offense into a civil citation.  However, NRA remains opposed to SB 946 because it would prohibit law-abiding permit holders from being able to carry a firearm for self-defense on a college campus.  Please contact your state Senator and politely urge them to support the committee amendments to Senate Bill 946.

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 Also moving in the Maryland General Assembly is Senate Bill 224, House Bill 891, and House Bill 1036.

Pro-Gun

House Bill 891, sponsored by Delegate Saab, changes the requirements to obtain and renew a wear and carry permit in the state of Maryland.  If enacted, an initial applicant would only need to take 6 hours of instruction by a qualified handgun instructor and those renewing their permit would only need to take 2 hours of instruction.  House Bill 891 is pending consideration on the House floor.

House Bill 1036, sponsored by Delegate Rey, allows an applicant to obtain preliminary approval for a wear and carry permit before obtaining the required training.  This will allow individuals to know whether or not they can obtain a permit prior to spending time and money on the required training only to be arbitrarily denied.  House Bill 1036 is pending consideration on the House floor.

Anti-Gun

Senate Bill 224, sponsored by Senator Lee, is the same bill as HB 294 and would prohibit from firearms ownership those persons with a probation before judgement in a domestically related 2^nd degree assault.  In Maryland, 2^nd degree assault does not require injury, only unwanted physical contact.  A probation before judgement is a legal option used by the Courts to allow an individual to maintain a period of good behavior in exchange for a future lack of criminal record.  They should not be treated as convictions.  Domestic Abusers should be convicted of their crimes, and persons without criminal records should not lose Constitutional rights.  Senate Bill 224 is pending consideration on the Senate floor.

Please contact your Delegates and urge them to SUPPORT House Bill 891 and House Bill 1036 when they come up for a vote.  Please also contact your state Senator and strongly urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 224 when it comes up for a vote.