On Thursday, February 22, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to consider four gun bills. Please contact committee members in support of Senate Bills 789 and 814, also urge them to outright OPPOSE Senate Bills 1062 and 741.
Anti-Gun:
Senate Bill 1062, sponsored by Baltimore City Senators upon request of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and her administration, would ban the POSSESSION of a detachable magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This legislation would ban most standard capacity magazine used in pistols and rifles popularly-used for self-defense. SB 1062 has no grandfather clause and could potentially subject tens of thousands of law-abiding Maryland gun owners to prison time or hefty fines overnight. This legislation will do nothing to stop crime, it will only further restrict the ability of law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves. Criminals, by definition, do not follow the law and will continue to ignore this one.
Senate Bill 741, sponsored by state Senator Richard Madaleno, Jr., seeks to remove citizen oversight regarding the appeals process for Maryland wear and carry permits. Current law allows individuals who are denied a wear and carry permit to file an appeal to the Handgun Permit Review Board, a group of five members of the public appointed by the Governor. SB 741 would dissolve this board, thus removing all public oversight, and make all appeals be filed through an administrative office instead, a process potentially designed to sustain permit denials.
Pro-Gun:
Senate Bill 789, sponsored by state Senator George Edwards, would bring Maryland in line with federal law by authorizing the sale of long guns to residents of any state who are eligible to purchase a rifle or shotgun under the laws of their state.
Senate Bill 814, sponsored by state Senator Johnny Salling, would clarify that self-defense can qualify as a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun for purposes of the issuance by the Secretary of State Police of a permit to carry, wear, or transport a handgun.
Again, please contact members of the Senate Judicial proceedings Committee and strongly urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 1062 and 741, and to SUPPORT Senate Bills 789 and 814.