Legislative Report #04 - January 29, 2024

Dear John,,

We need your support this week to defeat SB 324 Handgun Permits - Accidental Discharge and Training Requirements - Maryland State Police Gun Center (Firearm Safety Act of 2024). This bill is misguided and fatally flawed but still poses a theat to thousands of Maryland gun owners.

Please contact the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and voice your opposition. Using the links below you can easily support our efforts on your behalf.

In this report:

• 2A Maryland Zoom meeting - 2024 Session Update.
• Gun bill tracker & download links.
• New JUD & JPR Committee email address downloads for webmail users.
• Gun bill Committee hearing schedule for this week
• New gun bills filed since last week's report

Best regards,

John H. Josselyn

2A Maryland

Click here to send your comments and/or suggestions.

Zoom Meeting Reminder

TONIGHT @ 7 pm: 2A Maryland Legislative Zoom Meeting - LAST CALL

If you have already answered this poll, and indicated you will attend, check your email for the link sent at 4:50 AM today.

A follow-up email to late registering folks will be sent at 6:00 PM.

See you at 7 PM.

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

House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Contact Information

Many readers are still using standard webmail rather than a more sophisticated platform such as Outlook (not to be confused wiht outlook.com) or similar software. In order to assist our readers links have been provided to both "xlsx" and "csv" files which can be downloaded from 2A Maryland's website and then uploaded to webmail servers.

The object is to encourage readers to be poilitically active by making it easier to contact the Committtee members.

For Outlook email client users:

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

House Gun Control Bills - Hearing this week:

Sign up to testify today.

Hearing: Wednesday, January 31st

HB 0304 Gun Theft Felony Act SUPPORT

Senate Gun Bills - Hearings this week:

Sign up to testify: Wednesday, January 31st

Hearing: Thursday, February 1st

SB 0039 Gun Theft Felony Act (Cross-filed with HB 0304) SUPPORT

SB 0378 Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun SUPPORT

Sign up to testify: Thursday, February 1st

Hearing: Friday, February 2nd

This Week's Main Event:

SB 0324 Handgun Permits - Accidental Discharge and Training Requirements - Maryland State Police Gun Center (Firearm Safety Act of 2024)

This bill focuses on wear and carry permit holders. It defines an “accidental discharge” as an unintended discharge of a firearm that causes injury to or death of a person, or property damage. Permit holders who experience an accidental discharge will be required to register for a specified certified firearms safety training course within 90 days after the incident; and successfully complete the firearms safety training course within 6 months after the incident or risk loss of permit. The training course shall be approved by the Secretary. Requiring law enforcement agencies to report accidental discharge incidents to the Maryland Gun Center. Flies in the face of the 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination. OPPOSE

NEW House Bills filed since our last report:

HB 0546 Handgun Permits - Accidental Discharge and Training Requirements - Maryland State Police Gun Center (Firearm Safety Act of 2024)

Requiring that any wear and carry permit holder who experiences an accidental discharge (defined as causing injury or death or property damage) enroll in a prescribed remedial training course within 90 days and complete the course within 6 months of the incident for face penalties. OPPOSE

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

Essentially identical to HB 0304 and SB 0039. SUPPORT

HB 0684 Criminal Law - Prohibitions on Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun - Penalties

Changing the penalty for simply wearing and carrying a handgun without a permit and absent any other crime, from up to 5 years or up to $2,500 fine (this offense is a lifetime prohibitor) to a fine of up to $1,000 (which is not a lifetime prohibitor). SUPPORT

NEW Senate Bills filed since our last report:

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

Essentially identical to HB 0304 and SB 0039. SUPPORT

SB 0488 Civil Actions - Public Nuisances - Firearm Industry Members (Gun Industry Accountability Act of 2024)

Prohibiting certain firearm industry members from knowingly or recklessly creating, maintaining, or contributing to harm to the public through the sale, manufacture, importation, or marketing of a firearm–related product under certain circumstances; requiring a firearm industry member to establish and implement certain “reasonable” controls regarding the sale, manufacture, importation, distribution, marketing, possession, and use of certain firearm–related products; establishing that a violation of this Act is a public nuisance; authorizing the Attorney General or certain persons to bring an action against a firearm industry member for violations under this Act; and generally relating to civil actions against firearm industry members. Requires that the firearms manufacturers be clairvoyant and foresee how their products will be used after they leave the factory. An outright attack aimed at the destruction of the firearms industry via economic warfare. OPPOSE

SB 0501 Handguns - Wear, Carry, and Transport Laws - Handbook Publication

On or before October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the office of the Maryland Attorney General shall publish a handbook summarizing in a user friendly non-technical format and suitable for use by persons authorized to teach the training courses required under this article:

• The state laws applicable to the wearing, carrying, and transporting of a handgun in public in the state.
• All case laws and/or decisions applicable to the wearing, carrying, and transporting of a handgun in public in the state.
• All federal laws applicable to the wearing, carrying, and transporting of a handgun in public in the state.

On or before October 1, 2024, and each October 1 thereafter, the Secretary shall make copies of the handbook available to all current wear and carry permit holders via email notification and members of the public by posting a hyperlink on the Maryland State Police Website. SUPPORT

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

Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting certain licensed bow hunters from openly carrying a handgun under certain circumstances in Frederick County and Washington County during deer hunting season. SUPPORT

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.

Watch for more updates soon!

2A Maryland 2024 Session Legislative Reports - Webpage Views

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