Maryland: “Ghost Gun” Restriction Bill to go into Law without Governor’s Signature

Today, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that he would not sign so-called “ghost gun” measure, Senate Bill 387.  Unfortunately, Governor Hogan is allowing the bill to go into law without his signature.  The law will go into effect on June 1^st, 2022.  Hobbyists will have until March 1^st, 2023 to address absent serial numbers on their firearms.

Senate Bill 387 is overly broad, and will end the centuries-old practice of individuals building lawful firearms for personal use. It prohibits transfer or possession of certain unfinished firearm parts that are not regulated under federal law, as well as firearms without serial numbers, with an exemption for pre-1968 firearms and antiques.

It requires anyone who wishes to keep their previously legal items, to have a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) apply a serial number to them, and then the owner must register them with the state police. Violations of selling or transferring, while misdemeanors, are punishable by up to five years of imprisonment, which results in the permanent loss of Second Amendment rights.

Stay-tuned to NRA-ILA Alerts for more information and updates on our Second Amendment rights in Maryland.