Maryland: Multiple Anti-Gun Bill Hearings This Week

This week, House and Senate committees will hold hearings on gun control and anti-hunting bills.  The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hear SB 943/HB 1050, expanding the state's existing red flag laws. Additionally, the House Environment & Transportation Committee will hear HB 741, banning the use of lead-based ammunition for all hunting on or before July 1, 2029. Please contact committee members and ask them to oppose this legislation!

SB 943/HB 1050 requires a person filing a petition for a protective order to fill out an expansive questionnaire which includes over 30 additional questions on the respondents’ firearms, social media posts, and names and addresses of the respondent’s friends and associates. Empowers law enforcement to search any place they believe a firearm belonging to the respondent may be located.

This legislation opens the door for frivolous claims where personal grievances could lead to the wrongful stripping of someone's Second Amendment rights. The broadness of the criteria for filing a petition could easily be exploited, potentially turning these laws into tools for harassment rather than protection. SB 943 will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday, February 19th at 1pm. HB 1050 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 20th at 11am.

HB 741 bans lead ammunition for hunting. Requiring the DNR to prohibit the use of lead-based ammunition for all hunting, to be phased in by species, on or before July 1, 2029. HB 741 will be heard in the House Environment & Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 19th at 1pm.

Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for updates.