Legislative Report # 23 - November 21, 2022

Dear John,

This was a very troubling election for gun rights, several of our strongest allies in the Maryland General Assembly opted to seek election to other offices only to lose those races, while others lost their bids for re-election. Overall, it appears we lost 2 seats in the Senate and 4 seats in the House.

Governor-elect Moore has named Delegate Eric Luedtke as his Chief Legislative Officer. Those who follow events in Annapolis know that Eric Luedtke is one of the most liberal members in the Maryland General Assembly. This does not bode well.

Obviously, we will have our work cut out for us in the 2023 Session.

It will take some months before all of the room numbers, email addresses, committee assignments, etc. are determined and published, so please be patient.

In this report:

• Maryland Gubernatorial Elections - Unofficial Results
• Latest carry permit statistics from Maryland State Police
• Montgomery County Law to Restrict Lawful Carry
• Oregon voters approve Measure 114, a gun bill worse than FSA 2013
• Reports on several county and federal elections of interest
• FBI expands NICS check for purchases for 18-20 year old purchasers
• Maryland General Assembly 2023 Session Dates of Interest
• Brief introduction to federal court system
• Maryland Gun Laws and COMAR - PDF downloads

Best regards,

John H. Josselyn

2A Maryland

Click here to send your comments or suggestions.

Maryland Gubernatorial Elections - Unofficial Results

Following the primary elections, 2A Maryland estimated the outcome of the Gubernatorial election between the major candidates would favor Wes Moore over Dan Cox by a margin somewhere between 70-30 and 60-40. This prediction ignored the minor candidates because for all practical purposes, Maryland is a two party state.

Based upon the unofficial results, our prediction was accurate.

MSP Licensing Division - Latest Carry Permit Stats

06-23-2022 to 11-19-2022

* Average Processing Time is from date of application "acceptance*

Montgomery County Council Enacts Law to Restrict Lawful Carry

The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted to approved Bill 21-22, Weapons – Firearms In or Near Places of Public Assembly, sponsored by Council President Gabe Albornoz. This bill is cosponsored by the full Council.

The new law prohibits the possession of firearms in or near places of public assembly, with certain exemptions, and removes an exemption that allows individuals with certain handgun permits to possess handguns within 100 yards of a place of public assembly.  

Read more...

Download Council Staff Report on Bill 21-22

Download the text of Montgomery County Bill 21-22.

A legal challenge is pending. Unfortunately, this is a very slow process with an uncertain outcome. Best advice is to view Montgomery County in your rear view mirror. If that is not a option, follow the law.

Oregon Measure 114 Passes - Reduction of Gun Violence Act

By a narrow margin of 1.5%, Oregon voters passed Measure 114, a gun control law even more draconian that Martin O'Malley's Firearm Safety Act of 2013. Unlike Maryland's law, Measure 114, after 180 days, bans the POSSESSION of magazines with a capacity over 10 rounds. Download Oregon Measure 114

This is a grim reminder to gun owners that money talks. Measure 114 had overwhelming funding from anti-gun donors and organizations. Gun owners tend to contribute little in terms and funds and even less in terms of personal time to defend their rights.

Ballotpedia reported the following.

Contributions in support of Measure 114: $2,930,049

Contributions in opposition to Measure 114: $ 173,205

To put this in perspective; if every one of the 930,396 Oregon citizens who voted against the Measure had also donated the cost of only 1 box of 9mm Hornady Critical Defense ammunition, they would have raised $28,842,276. Think they wish they had?

Despite the documented failure of FSA 2013 to reduce violence, Ari Davis, policy advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, and Lisa Geller, state affairs advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions claim the new law can reduce crime. Click here for the article.

Numerous lawsuits challenging the Measure have been already been filed in Oregon challenging the new law. This is the price gun owners pay for failing to become involved in elections.

Andy Harris Survives Challenge from Former State Delegate and Montgomery County Transplant Heather Mizeur

Despite Losing, Former State Delegate Neil Parrott Ran a Race to be Proud of Against Millionaire Incumbent Congressman David Trone

Former Senator Mike Hough Loses Frederick County Executive Race by Less Than 1,000 Votes

FBI NICS E-Check System Messages Click here for website.

As a result of the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of 2022, signed into law on June 25, 2022, the NICS Section has been working towards the implementation of an enhanced background check process for persons between the ages of 18-20. The enhancement provides the opportunity for additional outreach and research to be conducted regarding the existence of any juvenile adjudication information and/or mental health prohibition. As a result, transactions on persons between the ages of 18-20 will initially be delayed and the address of the individual will be collected so that the appropriate local and state entities may be contacted. The enhanced process will begin on November 14, 2022, for all transactions on persons under the age of 21 as previously described. Checks on persons under the age of 21 could be extended for a period up to ten business days. Therefore, it is possible for an FFL to be contacted with an updated Brady Transfer Date. As a temporary measure and until the NICS can be updated to provide this information electronically, NICS staff will be calling FFLs to advise of any change in the transfer date. In preparation for calls from NICS, you will be asked to verify your license number and code word. You may wish to have this information readily available for you and your staff.

All descriptive information, including address, will follow normal purge requirements (i.e., deleted from NICS within 24 hours of the FFL receiving a proceed status.) Please note, if no potentially prohibiting information is located, the transaction will be proceeded as soon as possible.

Dates of Interest - 2023 Session - Maryland General Assembly

Click here to download 2023 Session Dates

Brief Introduction to the Federal Court System

"The federal court system has three main levels: district courts (the trial court), circuit courts which are the first level of appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United States, the final level of appeal in the federal system. There are 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts, and one Supreme Court throughout the country."



Click here to read the entire document.

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

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