Legislative Report #06 - February 12, 2024

Dear John,

This week's main events are the 11% excise tax bill on firearms, accessories and ammunition on Wednesday and the firearm industry harassment lawsuit bill on Friday. (See more information below.) Each of these bills can produce a serious negative impact on our right to keep and bear arms by enabling state sponsored enconomic warfare on the firearms industry and our personal finances.

Please call, write, and email the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee an urge them to vote unfavorably on the bills listed under "Gun bill hearings this week."

2A Maryland nevers asks you for money. We need something far more valuable: Your support for our efforts in Annapolis.

In this report:

• UPDATE on Dangerous bills filed this Session
• Bill status and Committee contact information
• Gun bill hearings this week.
• New gun control bills filed since last Monday
• Links to Maryland Gun Laws
• Links to past 2A Maryland Legislative Reports

Best regards,

John H. Josselyn

2A Maryland

Click here to send your comments and/or suggestions.

UPDATE on Dangerous ANTI-GUN Bills Filed this Session

Three dangerous bills have been offered this year which strike at the heart of our 2nd Amendment community.

House Bill 0430 will require that every person who carries a loaded firearm but have a $300,000 liability policy. This is not limited to carry permit holders. It will impact hunters, trap shooters, casual shooters, 4H and Scouts. Even non-federal law enforcement officers will be subject to this requirement. OPPOSE - No hearing date listed.

House Bill 0935 / Senate Bill 0784 will impose an 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition and various firearm accessories. The proponents claim this tax targets industry profits and not the consumer. They are lying. The cost of business is ultimately paid by the consumer. OPPOSE

SB 0784 Hearing: Wednesday, Feb 14th @ 1 PM Register: Tuesday, Feb. 13th, 8 am - 6 pm

HB 0935 Hearing: Thursday, Feb. 22nd @ 1 PM Register: Tuesday, Feb. 20th, 10 am - 6 pm

House Bill 0947 / Senate Bill 0488 is intended to circumvent federal protections for the lawful commerce of firearms and open the floodgates to a barrage of frivolous lawsuits seeking the force firearms manufacturers and dealers out of business by holding responsible for the unlawful acts of criminals. OPPOSE

SB 0488 Hearing: Friday, Feb. 16th @ 1 PM Register: Thursday, Feb. 15th, 8am - 6 pm

HB 0947 Hearing: Wednesday. Feb. 28th @ 1 PM Register: Monday, Feb. 26th, 10 am - 6 pm

Gun & Crime Related Bills - Bills Status & Hearing Schedules:

House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Contact Information

For Outlook email client users:

Click here to download the 2024 Maryland General Assembly contact information in Outlook pst format.

GUN BILL HEARINGS THIS WEEK:

HB 0659 Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun (Cross-filed with SB 0378)

SUPPORT

Sign up to testify: Monday, February 12th, 10 am - 6 pm

Hearing: Wednesday, February 14th @ 1 pm

SB 0611 Frederick and Washington Counties – Bow Hunting – Openly Carrying Handguns

SUPPORT

Sign up to testify: Monday, February 12th, 8 am - 6 pm

Hearing: Tuesday, February 13th @ 1 pm

SB 0784 Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act 11% Excise Tax  (Cross-filed with HB 935)

OPPOSE

Sign up to testify: Tuesday, February 13th, 8 am - 6 pm

Hearing: Wednesday, February 14th @ 1 pm

SB 0488 Civil Actions - Public Nuisances - Firearm Industry Members (Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024) (Cross-filed with HB 947)

OPPOSE

Sign up to testify: Thursday, February 15th, 8 am - 6 pm

Hearing: Friday, February 16th, @ 1 pm

NEW House Bills filed since our last report on Monday, February 5th:

HB 1166       Handguns - Wear, Carry, and Transport Laws - Handbook Publication (Cross-filed with SB 0501)

NOTE: Despite the MLIS listing as a cross-file to SB 0501, this bill is not identical and in its current form does little beyond requiring the publication of the laws with annual updates. If fails to require the Attorney General to produce the document. Suggested amendments to the bill have been offered to the sponsor.

“Requiring the Secretary of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to annually publish, beginning on October 1, 2024, a handbook summarizing State laws that apply to the wearing, carrying, and transporting of a handgun in public; requiring the Secretary to draft the handbook in plain language that can be easily understood without any special knowledge of the laws of the State; and requiring the Secretary to make copies of the handbook available to members of the public in a certain manner.” SUPPORT

HB 1178 Handgun Permit Holders - Authority to Carry Handguns in State Parks and Forests

Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting an individual to whom a handgun permit has been issued from wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun in a State park or forest. SUPPORT

HB 1301 Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting Firearms–Business Sign Posting Requirements Requiring a business that does not want firearms on the business's property to post a clear and conspicuous sign at the main or any secondary entrance of the business at least 24 inches from the edge of the entryway and 4 feet off the ground. Pending

NEW Senate Bills filed since last report on Monday, February 5th:

SB 0983 Hunting - Lead and Lead-Based Ammunition - Phase-Out

Directing the DNR to establish a process to phase out lead or lead based ammunition for hunting and prohibit its use on or before December 31, 2026. Priority will be focused on deer hunting. OPPOSE.

SB 1097 Public Safety - Gun Buyback Programs - Destruction of Firearms

Requiring a person or entity operating a gun buyback program to destroy a firearm, including all components and parts attached to the firearm, that is voluntarily traded in at a certain gun buyback program. OPPOSE

Maryland Gun Laws - Statutes & Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)

Note: The 2023 Edition of 2A Maryland's Publication Maryland Gun Laws is now available - see link below. The 2023 Edition of COMAR is currently under construction.

2A Maryland 2024 Session Legislative Reports - Webpage Views

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