Legislative Report #01 - January 04, 2024 | |
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The 2024 Session of the Maryland General Assembly will convene next Wednesday, January 10th, and with a new Session comes a new barrage of gun control bills.
Once again, I am asking for your active participation in protecting our right as citizens to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes. Simply reading 2A Maryland's reports in not enough. We must commit to giving our time and active contact with the members of the Maryland General Assembly.
2A Maryland is doing its part to provide leadership and give you the information and tools to engage with your Senator and Delegate(s). The rest is up to you!
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In this report:
- Attorney General Report: Firearm Crimes, Firearm Injuries/Fatalities, & Crime Firearms
- How Ohio’s Constitutional Carry Gun Law Affected Crime in Cities
- Attorney General Anthony Brown Files Petition for Rehearing in HQL Case
- Baltimore City's Latest Gun Buyback Follies
- Maryland Legislator's Handbook - good information for gun rights advocates
- Issue Papers for the 2024 Session - Pot and Gun Laws
- 2024 Maryland General Assembly - Complete Contact Information
- 2024 Maryland General Assembly - Email Contact Information download
- Maryland Gun Laws - Statutes & Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)
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Maryland Attorney General Report: Firearm Crimes, Firearm Injuries/Fatalities, and Crime Firearms | |
“On May 8, 2020, Maryland enacted a new statute, House Bill 1629, entitled, “An Act concerning Office of the Attorney General – Firearm Crime, Injuries, Fatalities, and Crime Firearms – Study.” This law, which became effective on June 1, 2020, requires the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to study “firearm crimes,” “firearm injuries and fatalities,” and “crime firearms” in the State, HB 1629 § 1(b), over three different periods (i.e., between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2019, between August 1, 2019, and July 31, 2020, and between August 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021), id. at § 1(d), and to submit three corresponding reports with findings and conclusions to the Governor and the General Assembly, id. House Bill 1186, enacted on May 30, 2021, extends the study, HB 1186 § 1(e), and requires an additional report covering a period from August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2022, HB 1186 § 1(e)(4).” Source: Firearm Injuries, Fatalities and Crime Firearm Study, Dec. 2021 | |
How Ohio’s Constitutional Carry Gun Law Affected Crime in Cities | | |
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Attorney General Anthony Brown Files Petition for Rehearing in HQL Case
“My office will continue to defend laws that are designed to protect Marylanders from gun violence.”
In truth, the AG's petition is simply a stalling tactic to keep the HQL requirement in force for as long as possible. There is no time frame for when the Court's must grant or reject the petition. Even if granted, the actual hearing could be delayed for months.
The graphs below clearly demonstate the utter failure of the Firearms Safety Act of 2013 (which included the HQL) as a means to make Maryland citizens safer. In fact, after a brief downturn in 2014, violent crime increased in Maryland.
Click here for the AG's Press Release
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Baltimore City's Latest Gun Buyback Folly | |
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The Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore raised approximately $50,000 to buy back unwanted firearms during an event at the Edmondson Villlage shopping center. In attendance included Mayor Brandon Scott, Councilman Nick Mosby, Senator Jill Carter and Congressman Kweisi Mfume. Curiously, numerous members of the Baltimore Police Department SWAT Team were also present for the August 5th event.
The Catholic Review stated, "According to a diocesan spokesperson, the buyback secured 362 firearms, including 158 handguns and 17 semiautomatic weapons and other types. Police paid $200 for handguns, rifles and shotguns, $300 for assault weapons. Each of the weapons will be destroyed."
So, exactly what did $50,000 net the Catholic Church? On August 14, 2023, 2A Maryland submitted a Public Information Act (PIA) request to the Baltimore Police Department. Over 2 months later we received its response. As expected most of the firearms were "dust collectors" their owners did not want.
Click here for 2A Maryland's PIA and the Baltimore Police Department's response.
Note: The City of Rockville also held a gun buyback. A PIA was sent the the Rockville Police Department (RPD) on August 14, 2024. RPD acknowledged receipt of the PIA but has yet to respond.
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Maryland Legislator's Handbook | |
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The 2024 Session of the Maryland General Assembly will convene at Noon on January 10th. This means readers will once again be trying to fathom the structure and language of this year's latest edition of new and recycled gun control legislation.
The Department of Legislative Services produces a very informative document entitled Legislatve Handbook Series. Volume 1 is the Maryland Legislator's Handbook.
Chapter 3 is particularly useful as it reviews types of legislation and the legislative process. It presents a step-by-step description of how a legislator introduces a bill or resolution and how that bill or resolution proceeds through committee review and second and third readings in both houses of the General Assembly. It includes a multi-page illustration (shown below) of the key parts of each bills and what they mean.
Click here to download Chapter 3
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Issue Papers for the 2024 Session - Selected Topics | |
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Public Safety - Gun Laws
2024 Sesson Will See Multiple Gun Bills - Handgun Permits
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"Considering recent developments and the uncertainty in the outcomes of the pending litigation in the State and across the nation, Maryland could see a broad range of firearm-related legislation during the 2024 session, including legislation seeking to implement components from newly enacted firearm laws from other states as well as legislation similar to that proposed during the 2023 session that challenges existing firearm restrictions. In addition, the United States Supreme Court has announced that it will hear its first Second Amendment case since the Bruen decision to decide whether federal law can prohibit firearm possession for persons subject to domestic violence orders. A decision is expected by June 2024."
Click here to download the entire article.
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Criminal Law - Cannabis
Limitations on Marijuana Searches Reduces Gun Seizures From Criminals
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"The Department of State Police (DSP) reports that cannabis is the substance most commonly associated with violent crime. While DSP did not see a decrease in July when Chapter 802 took effect (Editor's note: HB 1071 2023 Session effective July 1, 2023), the Field Operations Bureau (FOB) within DSP noted a marked decline in the number of gun seizures occurring in August and September when compared to the same months in prior years. Exhibit 1 shows gun seizure data for FOB for 2018 through 2023 in the months of July through September."
Click here to download the entire article.
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Note: Delegate Nick Charles (District 25) has been appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Melanie Griffith. Watch for revisions in the near future. | |
2024 Maryland General Assembly - Complete Contact Information | |
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The Combined PDF consists of the following component files:
- Condensed page listing every member of the Maryland General Assembly by District with room numbers and phone extensions.
- Committee lists for every major Committee with phone numbers and hyperlinked email addresses for every Committee member.
- List of Maryland General Assembly members sorted by District with Committee information, room and building addresses, phone numbers, hyperlinked email addresses and party affiliation.
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2024 Maryland General Assembly - Email Contact Information | The 2024 Update of 2A Maryland's "PST" file of contact information for every member of the Maryland General Assembly is now available. This simple download is designed for 2A advocates who are using Microsoft's Outlook email client (not to be confused with the Outlook.com email domain). It works with the Outlook email client regardless of which email service you are using. | |
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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!
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Maryland COMAR
2022 Edition
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2A Maryland 2023 Session Legislative Reports - Webpage Views | | |
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Help 2A Maryland by Joining the NRA
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John H. Josselyn
2A Maryland
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2A Maryland © 2017-2023
The information contained in this email may not be copied or reproduced in full or in part without proper and full attribution to 2A Maryland.
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