MGA2019: Testimony in Support of HB342, HB541, and SB115 - Public Safety - Permit to Carry, Wear, or Transport a Handgun - Qualifications

PDF Available Here

Both of these bills would amend MD Code, Public Safety, § 5-306(b)(6)(ii) to specify that “self-protection,” or “self-defense” is a basis for finding a “good and substantial” reason for the issuance of a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit.

MGA2019: Written Testimony in Opposition to HB740 and SB882 - Criminal Law – Firearms – Computer–Aided Fabrication and Serial Number (3D Printed Firearms & Ghost Guns)

PDF Available Here

House Bill 740 and Senate Bill 882 would enact two new possession criminal offenses into law. MD Code Criminal Law §4-111 to create a new crime by providing that a person may not “transport” into the State any firearm made after 1968 that does not have a serial number imprinted by federally licensed manufacturer. Section 4-111 would also provide that a person may not “(2) manufacture, possess, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, or receive a firearm manufactured after 1968 that is not imprinted with a serial number issued by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer.” A violation of this section is punishable by 3 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.

Major Attack on Gun Owners in Maryland!

If you are a gun owner who resides or could reside in Maryland, your rights are under attack like never before.  The Maryland General Assembly has put forth a series of egregious bills this session and we ask you to HELP US fight them! Not only do we need self-defenders, but also hunters, competitors, tinkerers, and recreational shooters, as the legislature has declared all of us public enemy number one!

Not content with making the lives of handgun owners miserable, now they are after the hunters and long guns. Bill SB737 was just introduced and that bill requires anyone desiring to purchase or "receive" a long gun obtain a LONG GUN QUALIFICATION LICENSE!  Highly similar to the Handgun Qualification License, this license will require 4 hours of training and fingerprinting and ban any person from receiving a long gun without having first applied to the State Police for this LGQL.  Even after getting an LGQL, a purchaser would also have to wait 7 days before picking up their long gun, and the bill would limit them to a single long gun purchase per month!  Additionally, anyone who moves into the state will be required to register their long guns within 90 days of establishing residency!  And there are loads of severe criminal penalties for those who fail to comply for any reason.

MGA2019: Written Testimony in Support of SB114

Firearms Safety Act of 2013 requires that a person complete a 16 hour training course, taught by a State certified instructor, “prior to application” for a carry permit. MD Code, Public Safety, § 5-306(a)(5). Senate Bill 114 would amend Section 5-306 to delete the requirement that the training be completed “prior to application.” It then provides that a person may file an initial application for a wear and carry permit without completing the training and directs that the State Police to issue a preliminary approval if the person is otherwise qualified for the permit. The person then has 120 days after receipt of the preliminary approval to furnish the State Police the certificate of training otherwise required by the regulations. A permit does not issue until that training certificate is provided. If no certificate of training is provided, the State Police are directed to revoke the preliminary approval and deny the permit application.

MGA2019: Written Testimony in Opposition of SB113

SB 113 would amend MD Code Public Safety 5-304. That section sets out the requirements for an application for wear and carry permits issued by the Maryland State Police. It establishes fee caps for the applications and provides that the applicant for a carry permit may pay the fees under this section by “a personal check, business check, certified check or money order.” SB 113 would amend this last requirement, providing that the applicant must pay via “a method of payment approved by the Secretary.” For the reasons set forth below, this change is misguided and would impose additional barriers on applicants who lack the means to meet the State Police’s new requirements.

Tips for your Testimony in the Maryland General Assembly

We welcome you, your friends, your family, and all 2nd Amendment and self-defense rights supporters to testify before the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. As current or potential gun owners, it's in everyone's interest to keep an eye on what our lawmakers are doing. We all know the effect atrocious gun laws have on us and the best way to prepare for what may be on the horizon is to read the bills and act!

MSI 2019 Gun Bill Tracker

 Read what these bills mean for you here

Contact Your Legislators here

  MSI 2019 MD General Assembly Legislation Tracker    
April 6th, 2019
Green = Support, Red = Oppose, Blue = No Position
Bill #SummarySponsorsStatusNotes
HB92  Altering the manner in which an applicant for a handgun permit is required to pay a certain fee to allow any method of payment approved by the Secretary of State Police. Dumais, K.

2019-01-24 / Introduced
    Passed House (139-1) - Vote
To Senate Judicial Proceedings
    Passed Senate (44-1) - Vote

PASSED - ENROLLED

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB95  Applying certain provisions disqualifying a person from possessing a rifle or shotgun to an antique firearm. Dumais, K. 2019-01-24 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judiciary; Withdrawn

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB96  Providing that, for certain purposes, the term "transfer" includes a loan other than a temporary gratuitous exchange of a regulated firearm between two individuals who remain in the same location for the duration of the exchange. Dumais, K.

2019-01-24 / Introduced
    Passed House (88-44) - Vote


To Senate Rules

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB236  Altering penalties for a certain crime relating to use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence or felony. Speaker, T., Anderton, C., Arentz, S., Arikan, L., Buckel, J., Chisholm, B., Ciliberti, B., Clark, J., Corderman, P., Grammer, R., Hartman, W., Jacobs, J., Kipke, N., Kittleman, T., Krebs, S., Malone, M., Mangione, N., McComas, S., Mckay, M., Metzgar, R., Morgan, M., Otto, C., Parrott, N., Reilly, T., Rose, A., Saab, S., Shoemaker, H., Szeliga, K. 2019-01-24 / Introduced
To House Judiciary
 
HB342  Clarifying that personal protection or 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; and declaring the intent of the General Assembly that an amount representing the increase in General Fund revenues, less increased administrative costs, realized from the increased number of permits issued under the Act be included in the annual budget to fund certain school mental health programs. Reilly, T., Arikan, L., Buckel, J., Cassilly, A., Hornberger, K., Kipke, N., Mangione, N., Parrott, N., Rose, A., Shoemaker, H. 2019-01-29 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judiciary - Vote
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB367  Prohibiting a county board of education or public school from spending any money from any source to directly or indirectly provide a teacher with a firearm or train a teacher in the use of a firearm; and providing the Act does not apply to a school-approved sport or club that makes use of firearms. Solomon, J., Acevero, G., Cain, A., Ebersole, E., Feldmark, J., Guyton, M., Ivey, J., Lehman, M., Lewis, J., Lierman, B., Love, S., Mosby, N., Palakovich Carr, J., Patterson, E., Shetty, E., Smith, S., Stewart, V., Turner, F., Washington, A., Wilkins, J. 2019-03-04 / Introduced
Passed House (95-44) - Vote
To Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs
 
HB468  Prohibiting a person from storing or leaving a loaded or unloaded firearm in a location where a child could gain access to the firearm unless the firearm is locked by a certain safety lock or is secured in a container that is capable of preventing an unintended person from gaining access to the contents; altering the definition of "child" to be an individual under the age of 18 years instead of 16 years; and providing a penalty for a violation of the Act of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. Stein, D., Shetty, E., Atterbeary, V., Barnes, B., Bartlett, S., Barve, K., Gilchrist, J., Hettleman, S., Kelly, A., Korman, M., Lafferty, S., Lewis, J., Lewis, R., Lierman, B., Moon, D., Reznik, K., Rosenberg, S., Solomon, J., Valentino-Smith, G., Watson, C. 2019-02-01 / Introduced
To House Judiciary
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB523  Prohibiting a school-approved sport, club, or course of instruction from using lead ammunition in training, practice, or athletic competition. Palakovich Carr, J., Acevero, G., Barve, K., Boyce, R., Bridges, T., Carr, A., Charkoudian, L., Crutchfield, C., Cullison, B., Davis, D., Ebersole, E., Fisher, W., Fraser-hidalgo, D., Gilchrist, J., Hettleman, S., Kelly, A., Korman, M., Lehman, M., Lewis, J., Lewis, R., Lopez, L., Love, S., Luedtke, E., Moon, D., Mosby, N., Qi, L., Queen, P., Shetty, E., Smith, S., Solomon, J., Stewart, V., Terrasa, J., Watson, C., Wells, M., Wilkins, J. 2019-02-18 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Ways and Means; Withdrawn
 
HB541  Clarifying that personal protection or self-defense can qualify as a good and substantial reason to carry, wear, 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. Cox, D., Arikan, L., Boteler, J., Ciliberti, B., Grammer, R., Hartman, W., Hornberger, K., Jacobs, J., Krebs, S., Mangione, N., McComas, S., Parrott, N., Pippy, J., Szeliga, K. 2019-02-05 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judiciary - Vote
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB612  Altering the definition of "regulated firearm" to include the previously excepted Colt AR-15 Sporter H-BAR rifle. Ivey, J., Barnes, B., Barron, E., Bartlett, S., Brooks, B., Cain, A., Feldmark, J., Fennell, D., Fisher, W., Hettleman, S., Jalisi, J., Kelly, A., Love, S., Moon, D., Mosby, N., Pena-Melnyk, J., Proctor, E., Shetty, E., Terrasa, J., Watson, C. 2019-02-06 / Introduced
To House Judiciary
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB740  Prohibiting a person from transporting into the State or manufacturing, possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, purchasing, or receiving a firearm manufactured after 1968 that is not imprinted with a serial number issued by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer; and establishing penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to $5,000, or both for violations of the Act. Dumais, K., Atterbeary, V., Acevero, G., Anderson, C., Bagnall, H., Barnes, B., Barnes, D., Barron, E., Barve, K., Boyce, R., Branch, T., Brooks, B., Busch, M., Cain, A., Cardin, J., Carr, A., Chang, M., Charkoudian, L., Crutchfield, C., Davis, D., Davis, D., Ebersole, E., Feldmark, J., Fennell, D., Fisher, W., Fraser-hidalgo, D., Gaines, T., Gilchrist, J., Glenn, C., Guyton, M., Harrison, A., Haynes, K., Healey, A., Hettleman, S., Hill, T., Holmes, M., Jackson, M., Johnson, S., Jones, A., Kaiser, A., Kelly, A., Korman, M., Krimm, C., Lafferty, S., Lewis, J., Lewis, R., Lierman, B., Lisanti, M., Lopez, L., Love, S., Luedtke, E., McIntosh, M., Moon, D., Mosby, N., Palakovich Carr, J., Patterson, E., Pena-Melnyk, J., Pendergrass, S., Qi, L., Queen, P., Reznik, K., Rogers, M., Rosenberg, S., Shetty, E., Solomon, J., Stein, D., Stewart, V., Sydnor, C., Terrasa, J., Turner, F., Valderrama, K., Valentino-Smith, G., Walker, J., Watson, R., Wilkins, J., Young, K., Young, P.

2019-02-08 / Introduced
Passed House (94-45) - Vote
To Senate Judicial Proceedings

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB749  Providing that a person may not be denied the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely on the basis that the person is a certain qualifying patient; defining the term "qualifying patient" to mean a person who is authorized under certain provisions of law to use medical cannabis; establishing the intent of the General Assembly that medical cannabis should be treated as legal for certain purposes and the State should not penalize a qualifying patient for using the drug legally; etc. Grammer, R., Arikan, L., Szeliga, K. 2019-02-08 / Introduced
Hearing 2/25 at 10:00 a.m. (Judiciary)
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB786  Providing that a person who is not a certain licensee may not complete the transfer of a certain rifle or shotgun as transferor or transferee, except under certain circumstances; requiring, before a certain transfer is conducted, the transferor and transferee to meet jointly with a certain licensee and request that the licensee facilitate the transfer; requiring a licensee to take certain actions when facilitating a transfer; etc. Atterbeary, V., Acevero, G., Barnes, B., Bartlett, S., Barve, K., Branch, T., Bridges, T., Cain, A., Carr, A., Chang, M., Charkoudian, L., Charles, N., Crutchfield, C., Cullison, B., Davis, D., Davis, D., Dumais, K., Ebersole, E., Feldmark, J., Fennell, D., Fisher, W., Fraser-hidalgo, D., Gilchrist, J., Glenn, C., Healey, A., Hettleman, S., Hill, T., Ivey, J., Jalisi, J., Jones, A., Kaiser, A., Kelly, A., Korman, M., Krimm, C., Lafferty, S., Lewis, J., Lewis, R., Lierman, B., Lopez, L., Love, S., McIntosh, M., Moon, D., Mosby, N., Palakovich Carr, J., Patterson, E., Pendergrass, S., Proctor, E., Qi, L., Reznik, K., Rogers, M., Sample-Hughes, S., Shetty, E., Smith, S., Solomon, J., Sydnor, C., Terrasa, J., Turner, F., Valentino-Smith, G., Watson, C., Watson, R., Young, K., Young, P.

2019-02-08 / Introduced
Passed House (90-49)- Vote

In the Senate - Second Reading Passed with Amendments

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
HB834  Authorizing a person to replace a lost or broken assault weapon that was lawfully possessed in accordance with certain provisions of law if the replacement is registered with the Secretary of State Police. Howard, S., Arikan, L., Beitzel, W., Buckel, J., Chisholm, B., Ciliberti, B., Grammer, R., Malone, M., McComas, S., Mckay, M., Rose, A., Saab, S. 2019-02-08 / Introduced
To House Judiciary
 
HB981  Providing an exemption under the sales and use tax for the sale of certain firearm safety devices, including a firearm safe, firearm lockbox, trigger and barrel lock, or any other item designed to enhance home firearm safety. Parrott, N., Arikan, L., Buckel, J., Hartman, W., Howard, S., Malone, M., McComas, S., Saab, S. [Hearing: Mar 1 @ 1:00 pm House Hearing]

2019-02-12 / Introduced
To House Ways and Means
 
HB1343  Altering the process by which a person who is denied a certain handgun permit or renewal of a permit or whose permit is revoked or limited by the Secretary of State Police or the Secretary's designee may appeal the decision; repealing provisions of law relating to the Handgun Permit Review Board; providing that appeals from a certain decision by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee may be made to the Office of Administrative Hearings in a certain manner; etc. Atterbeary, V., Rosenberg, S.

2019-02-26 / Introduced
   Returned Passed
 
SB8  Prohibiting a person from using a certain computer-aided fabrication device to manufacture a firearm; prohibiting a person from possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, purchasing, or receiving a firearm manufactured using a certain computer-aided fabrication device; prohibiting a person from possessing, distributing, transmitting, publishing, selling, transferring, or purchasing a certain computer control language, computer program, computer software, or computer database; establishing certain penalties; etc. Benson, J.



2019-02-06 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn

 
SB97  Providing that a person may not be denied the right to purchase, possess, or carry a firearm solely on the basis that the person is authorized to use medical cannabis. Hough, M., Zirkin, R.


[Hearing: Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm House Hearing]

2019-02-06 / Introduced
Passed Senate (47-0) - Vote 

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB113  Altering the manner in which an applicant for a handgun permit may pay a certain fee to allow for payment by credit card in addition to payment by a personal check, business check, certified check, or money order. Hough, M., Bailey, J., Carozza, M., Cassilly, B., Eckardt, A., Edwards, G., Gallion, J., Hershey, S., Jennings, J.B., Ready, J., Reilly, E., Salling, J., West, C., Smith, W.

[Hearing: Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm House Hearing]

2019-02-26 / Passed Senate (44-3) - Vote

PASSED ENROLLED
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB114  Authorizing a person to apply for preliminary approval of a handgun permit to wear, carry, or transport a handgun without completing a certified firearms training course; requiring the Secretary of State Police to investigate an application for a handgun permit; requiring the Secretary to issue preliminary approval if the applicant meets certain requirements except the certified firearms training course; requiring an applicant to satisfy the firearms training requirement within 120 days after receipt of preliminary approval; etc. Hough, M., Bailey, J., Carozza, M., Cassilly, B., Eckardt, A., Edwards, G., Gallion, J., Hershey, S., Jennings, J.B., Ready, J., Salling, J., Simonaire, B., West, C.

[Hearing: Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm House Hearing]

2019-01-25 / Introduced
Passed Senate (46-0) - Vote

To House Judiciary
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB115  Clarifying that personal protection or self-defense can qualify as a good and substantial reason to carry, wear, 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. Hough, M., Bailey, J., Carozza, M., Cassilly, B., Eckardt, A., Edwards, G., Gallion, J., Hershey, S., Jennings, J.B., Ready, J., Salling, J., Simonaire, B. 2019-02-06 / Introduced
Unfavorable report by Judicial Proceedings - Vote
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB118  Establishing that the Secretary of State Police is not required to submit certain fingerprints with a certain application for a criminal history records check if the applicant's fingerprints are already on file with the Department of State Police. Ready, J., Bailey, J., Carozza, M., Cassilly, B., Eckardt, A., Edwards, G., Gallion, J., Hershey, S., Hough, M., Jennings, J.B., Reilly, E., Salling, J., Simonaire, B., West, C. 2019-02-04 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings; Withdrawn
 
SB287  Exempting a certain applicant for a handgun qualification license from a certain training requirement if the applicant is a certain retired law enforcement officer or a certain active or retired correctional officer, sheriff, or deputy sheriff under certain circumstances. Cassilly, B., Bailey, J., Carozza, M., Edwards, G., Gallion, J., Hough, M., Jennings, J.B., Ready, J., Reilly, E., Salling, J., Simonaire, B.

[Hearing: Mar 26 @ 1:00 pm House Hearing]

2019-01-29 / Introduced
Passed Senate (46-0) - Vote

To House Judiciary

 
SB346  Providing that, for certain purposes relating to the transfer of a firearm, the term "transfer" includes a loan other than a temporary gratuitous exchange of a regulated firearm between two individuals who remain in the same location for the duration of the exchange. Ferguson, W., Elfreth, S., Ellis, A., Feldman, B., Guzzone, G., Kelley, D., Rosapepe, J., Smith, W., Washington, M., West, C., Young, R.

2019-02-06 / Introduced
    Passed Senate (47-0) - Vote

    Passed House with Amendments (89-47) - Vote

Conference Committee Appointed

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB441  Prohibiting a person from storing or leaving a loaded or an unloaded firearm in a location where a child could gain access to the firearm, unless the firearm is locked by a certain safety lock or is secured in a container that is capable of preventing an unintended person from gaining access to the contents; altering the definition of "child" to be an individual under the age of 18 years instead of 16 years; and providing a penalty for a violation of the Act of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. Smith, W., Augustine, M., Beidle, P., Benson, J., Elfreth, S., Ellis, A., Feldman, B., Ferguson, W., Griffith, M., Guzzone, G., Kelley, D., King, N., Kramer, B., Lam, C., Lee, S., Peters, D., Pinsky, P., Rosapepe, J., Waldstreicher, J., Washington, M., West, C., Young, R., Zirkin, R., Zucker, C. 2019-02-06 / Introduced
To Senate Judicial Proceedings
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB536  Prohibiting a county board of education or public school from spending any money from any source to directly or indirectly provide a teacher with a firearm. Lam, C., Peters, D., Young, R. 2019-02-05 / Introduced
Hearing 2/13 at 1:00 p.m. (Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs)
 
SB622  Requiring the Office of the Attorney General to study and compile information regarding certain matters that relate to certain crime firearms; requiring the Department of State Police to provide certain information for the study; and requiring the Office of the Attorney General to report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2020. Carter, J.

2019-02-06 / Introduced
Passed Senate (47-0) -Vote

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

 
SB706  Authorizing a person to replace a lost or broken assault weapon that was lawfully possessed in accordance with certain provisions of law if the replacement is registered with the Secretary of State Police. Ready, J., Bailey, J., Eckardt, A., Hough, M., Serafini, A. 2019-02-06 / Introduced
Unfavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings - Vote
 
SB737  Providing that a person who is not a certain licensee may not complete the transfer of a certain rifle or shotgun as transferor or transferee, except under certain circumstances; requiring, before a certain transfer is conducted, the transferor and transferee to meet jointly with a certain licensee and request that the licensee facilitate the transfer; requiring a licensee to take certain actions when facilitating a transfer; etc. Lee, S., Beidle, P., Elfreth, S., Feldman, B., Guzzone, G., Kramer, B., Patterson, O., Peters, D.



2019-02-06 / Introduced

Second Reading Passed with Amendments

2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB882  Prohibiting a person from transporting into the State a certain firearm that is not imprinted with a certain serial number or manufacturing, possessing, selling, offering to sell, transferring, purchasing, or receiving a certain firearm that is not imprinted with a certain serial number; prohibiting a person from using a certain computer-aided fabrication device to manufacture a certain firearm; establishing certain penalties; etc. Smith, W., Augustine, M., Beidle, P., Benson, J., Carter, J., Elfreth, S., Ellis, A., Feldman, B., Ferguson, W., Griffith, M., Guzzone, G., Hester, K., Kagan, C., Kelley, D., King, N., Kramer, B., Lam, C., Lee, S., Miller, T., Nathan-Pulliam, S., Patterson, O., Peters, D., Pinsky, P., Washington, M., Young, R., Zirkin, R., Zucker, C.

2019-02-14 / Introduced
To Senate Judicial Proceedings
2019/02/26 - Testimony Here
SB1000  Altering the process by which a person who is denied a certain handgun permit or renewal of a permit or whose permit is revoked or limited by the Secretary of State Police or the Secretary's designee may appeal the decision; repealing provisions of law relating to the Handgun Permit Review Board; providing that appeals from a certain decision by the Secretary or the Secretary's designee may be made to the Office of Administrative Hearings in a certain manner; etc. Beidle, P., Augustine, M., Carter, J., Elfreth, S., Ellis, A., Feldman, B., Ferguson, W., Guzzone, G., Hayes, A., Kagan, C., Lam, C., Lee, S., Miller, T., Peters, D., Rosapepe, J., Smith, W., Washington, M., Young, R., Zucker, C.

2019-03-01 / Introduced
   Passed Senate (30-16)

RETURNED PASSED

2019/03/07 - Testimony Here 

 

Hogan Signs Gun Control Bills Into Law!

Governor Hogan disregarded our veto requests and has signed the Handun Permit Review Board Bill (HB 819) , and the “red flag” bill (HB 1302). As detailed in our veto letters to the Governor (the letter on HB 819 can be found HERE, and HB 1302 letter can be found HERE), both bills were bad, but the HB 1302 “red flag” bill was the worst.

Veto request for HB819, the Handgun Permit Review Board repeal bill

Dear Mr. Shank:

This letter is submitted on behalf of Maryland Shall Issue, its officers and Board and all its members, to request that Governor Hogan veto HB 819, as enacted by the General Assembly. As you may know, Maryland Shall Issue is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of gun owners’ rights in Maryland. The undersigned President of Maryland Shall Issue is an attorney and an active member of the Bar of the District of Columbia, having recently retired from the United States Department of Justice, after 33 years of practicing before the federal Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. For the reasons set forth below, HB 819 is an unfounded attack on the Handgun Permit Review Board whose members are appointed by you. It deserves to be vetoed.

Veto Request for HB 1302, the so-called "Extreme Risk Protection Orders", AKA "Red Flag" bill

Dear Mr. Shank:

    This letter is submitted on behalf of Maryland Shall Issue, its officers and Board and all its members, to request that Governor Hogan veto HB-1302, as enacted by the General Assembly on April 9, 2018.

ACTION ALERT: "Red Flag" bill (HB 1302), the so-called "Extreme Risk Protection Orders" bill. UPDATED

UPDATED: 

Well, HB 1302, the so-called Extreme  Risk Protection Orders bill, has emerged from the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and quickly passed the Senate.  The vote in the Senate was 31-13.  Up front, we wish to thank the tireless efforts of Senator Hough, Senator Ready, Senator Cassilly and Chairman Zirkin in the Committee to remake this bill from the House version. And because of their efforts, the resulting bill is certainly a big improvement over the bill that was passed by the House. To their great credit, Senators Hough, Ready, Cassilly and Senator Linda Norman (who is new to the Committee, having just been appointed to the seat filled by her late husband) voted against this bill in Committee. That is because these Senators realized that the bill is still a legal abomination. Even under the JPR amendments, the bill still makes gun owners a unique class in the law, e.g., a person who can be proceeded against and whose property can be seized simply because of his or her status as a gun owner.

ACTION ALERT! Urge your representatives to pass SB27 AS-IS

The Opposition is playing games with SB 27, which is the preliminary approval bill for a carry permit. This bill passed the Senate 44-1 this year and was approved by the House Judiciary Committee 18-0. It passed the House last year. The opposition wants to tack on amendments to make it hard on republicans. We need, however, something to pass in the House for it to get to a conference with the Senate. PLEASE, call and write your representative ASAP to urge them to stand firm and get this bill through the House in accordance with what passed the Senate and what the House did last year.

You can find your representatives HERE

SB27 can be found HERE

Legislative Alert: "Rapid Fire Trigger Activator" Ban Bills Hearing Scheduled

Legislative Alert: "Rapid Fire Trigger Activator" Ban Bills Hearing - Joint Hearing Room (Department of Legislative Services Building, 90 State Circle, Annapolis) 2/28 1:00pm.

House Gun Bill Day - March 6, 2018

MSI is urging our members and all who care about firearms rights to come out to Annapolis on Tuesday, March 6, 2018! This is gun bill day in the House of Delegates. No rally or formal hosted event is planned. So far 38 bills are scheduled for this day.

MGA2018 Legislative Update

Well, it is starting to get exciting in Annapolis.  We are tracking legislation and updating it often on our website with links to the bills and our testimony.  We do want to highlight here a few of these bills and encourage our members (and other supporters of the Second Amendment) to contact their legislators and come out and testify.  MSI needs your support. 

National Reciprocity Passes the House!

Passage of this bill (H.R. 38) in the House is huge and is strongly endorsed by MSI. The bill contains multiple provisions greatly strengthening the rights of individuals with concealed carry permits and and of residents of constitutional carry states that allow concealed carry without a permit.

Updated: Cert Petition Filed in Kolbe!

We have an update on the Kolbe (Assault Weapons Ban) lawsuit.  We have filed a Cert Petition to the Supreme Court!

Click here to read the petition!

2017 Legislative Session Recap

Sine Die (midnight, April 10) has come and gone and the 2017 Session of the General Assembly is over.  Thankfully.  The forces of logic and sense actually did pretty well, considering what was at stake.  My thanks go out to the folks and leadership at NRA-ILA, the Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association, 2A Maryland, the AGC, the Western Maryland Sportsmen's Coalition and the Maryland Hunting Coalition.  We all contributed.  But most of all I want to thank our membership and others, who stood up and were counted with time, testimony, emails, calls, support, and signs.  Thank you for your passion!  It is a bond that we all share.

So what happened this year?

Campus Gun Ban Bill Testimony Videos

Several of the 2A organizations in our state, along with the NRA showed up in Annapolis to testify against many bills.  We have some video from these testimonies one of the more egregious bills this session, HB0159 - Weapon-Free Higher Education Zones.  Take a look!

Latest News

MSI Bill Tracker - 2024 Maryland General Assembly Regular Session

2023 Gun Bill Tracker Graphic

This tracker follows legislation and lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly. It serves as an easily searchable gun and self-defense-related bill database for supporters of the right to keep and bear arms.

 

For a simpler view of bills MSI has taken a position on, please see the supplementary table below.

Share this tracker anywhere! tinyurl.com/guntracker
Key:
Red ❌= Oppose
Green ✅= Support
Light Green ✅= Support with Amendment
Blue ℹ️= Informational Testimony Only (provides knowledge for the committee on the bill without taking a position)
Gray = Position Pending or None Taken

Drop this link in your preferred calendar app to subscribe to live updates from the tracker https://bit.ly/3Z67kMq

HOW TO TESTIFY
MSI Guide - Tips For Your Testimony in the Maryland General Assembly

To Sign-up to testify, you MUST make a MyMGA Account!
DO SO HERE


Should you talk to your lawmakers about issues that affect your right to keep and bear arms for self-defense? Absolutely!
Use these links to find the State lawmakers who represent you in the General Assembly and how to contact them. 

Always be civil and speak on how a bill or bills directly affect you.

  1. Emails are ok.
  2. Phone calls are better.
  3. Visits are the best.

Find your representatives HERE
Committee Contacts can be found HERE

 

 

(Tutorial videos sourced from the MGA Website)

House of Delegates Protocols

Senate Witness Guidelines

Sign-up for testimony HERE

Remote testimony is conducted via Zoom. Download it here.

All Committee Testimony Guidelines HERE

Maryland General Assembly YouTube Pages:
Main Page
Senate
Senate Judicial Proceedings
House
House Judiciary
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4

Share our tracker with this link:
https://tinyurl.com/guntracker


Maryland Shall Issue® (MSI) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization dedicated to the preservation and advancement of gun owners' rights in Maryland. It seeks to educate the community about the right of self-protection, the safe handling of firearms, and the responsibility that goes with carrying a firearm in public. MSI is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.

Join Us! 

 

 

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Maryland Shall Issue®, Inc.
9613 Harford Rd
Ste C #1015
Baltimore, MD 21234-2150

NOTE: Please use  to contact us as we are not always able to answer voice messages.

Phone:  410-849-9197
Email: 
Web:   www.marylandshallissue.org