- May 22, 2005
- 122,889
In this issue:
1. New Information On Bills
2. Coming To The Hearings on 2/21
3. Watch the Hearings Online
4. House Bills 2012
5. Senate Bills 2012
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1. New Information On Bills
We have several additions and changes to the bill information since the last issue.
- HB300 - We've added the information for the House Judiciary Committee. Please contact them and state your opposition to HB300.
- HB1100 - Added position statement and action plan.
- SB512 - Added the position and action plan.
- Added new bills HB1310 and HB1321 with position statements and action plans.
- Corrected the email address for Delegate Curt Anderson on the position statements and action plans.
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2. Coming To The Hearings on 2/21
- Parking is at a premium in downtown Annapolis.
- The easiest way to park is to park at the Navy/Marine Corps stadium (exit 24 off of RT 50). Parking is $5.00.
- Plan your arrival to be at the hearing location by noon.
- Catch the shuttle ($3.00 this year).
- Ask the driver to let you off at the House or Senate Building, respectively.
- Pass through security with a photo ID. Treat this as you would airport security.
- Go to hearing room and stake your claim for a seat
- If submitting written testimony, you will need 35 copies for the House and 20 copies for the Senate.
- Written testimony must be submitted by 11:00am
- Dress is business casual or business suits. Let's not play into their stereotypes. MSI Polo shirts are perfect and you can also put your MSI lapel pins on your suit jackets.
- Sign up sheets are inside the hearing room. Sign up to register your position, even if you don't intend to speak.
- Typically, the representatives of the major gun groups speak first because they have a coordinated plan for testimony.
- When you speak, be concise, polite and stay on a single topic. If the day is getting long (and Feb 21 will be a long day), it's OK to just say, "I support/oppose this bill".
Attending a Committee Hearing
Security Procedures
Map of Legislative Complex
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3. Watch the Hearings Online
If you cannot attend the hearings in person, remember that you can watch them as they happen by going here.
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4. House Bills 2012
HB-45 - Handgun Permits - Qualifications - Presumption and Burden of Proof - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21st, 1:00pm
Repealing the requirement that the Secretary of State Police base a finding that an applicant for a handgun permit has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun on an investigation; establishing a presumption that an applicant for a handgun permit has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun for the purposes of qualifying for a handgun permit; and establishing that the Secretary has the burden of specified proof.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB -208 - Baltimore City Public School System - Governance - NO POSITION
No Hearing Scheduled
This is just a functional bill that rewords some of the language in this part of the existing code. It's only filed as a "gun bill" because this section of the code authorizes Baltimore City Schools Police Officers to carry a firearm. There's nothing of interest for our folks.
HB-209 - Public Safety - Possession of Firearms - Crimes Committed in Other States - OPPOSE
Hearing Date March 6, 1:00pm
Prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm, rifle, or shotgun if the person was previously convicted of an offense under the laws of another state or the United States that would constitute a crime of violence or a violation of specified provisions of law if committed in this State.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-256 - Regulated Firearms - License Issue By Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia or West Virginia - Reciprocity - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Specifying that a license to carry a regulated firearm, including a concealed regulated firearm, issued to an individual by Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia is valid in Maryland.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-300 - Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Renewal Period For Retired law Enforcement - OPPOSE AS WRITTEN
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Establishing that a handgun permit issued to a retired law enforcement officer of the State or a county or municipal corporation of the State expires on the last day of the holder's birth month following five years after the date the permit is issued and may be renewed for successive periods of five years each if, at the time of an application for renewal, the applicant possesses the qualifications for the issuance of a permit.
Position statement and action plan can be found here.
HB-379 - Frederick County - Alcoholic Beverages - Citations Issued By Inspectors - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Removing Frederick County from the list of counties whose alcoholic beverages inspectors are prohibited from carrying a weapon when issuing a citation for specified violations.
HB-396 - Public Safety - Law Enforcement Handgun Disposal - Deceased Officers - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Authorizing a law enforcement agency to transfer the handgun of a law enforcement officer who is killed or dies in the performance of duty to specified members of the deceased officer's family or to the deceased officer's estate; and authorizing a law enforcement agency to render the handgun of a deceased officer inoperable before transfer.
HB-430 -Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Repeal of Finding Requirement (Better Maryland - Right of Self Defense) - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Repealing the requirement that the Secretary of State Police find that a person has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun before issuing a handgun permit to the person.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can be Found Here
HB-488 - Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Repeal of Finding Requirements - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Repealing the requirement that the Secretary of State Police find that a person has a good and substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun before issuing a handgun permit to the person.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can be Found Here
HB-527 - Courts - Bankruptcy - Arms - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 15, 1:00pm
Authorizing a person to claim an exemption in specified bankruptcy proceedings for arms in an amount not to exceed $2,000 in value; and applying the Act prospectively.
Position Statement and Action Can Be Found Here
HB-579 - Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Exemption from Training Course - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Providing an exemption from specified requirements to complete a specified firearms training course if an individual is a retired law enforcement officer of a unit of the federal government, the State, or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
HB-618 - Task Force to Study Access of Individuals with Mental Illness to Regulated Firearms - OPPOSE
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Establishing a Task Force to Study Access of Individuals with Mental Illness to Regulated Firearms; providing for the membership, staffing, and duties of the Task Force; requiring the Task Force to report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2012, on legislative options for limiting the access to regulated firearms of individuals with a history of mental illness; and expanding the access of law enforcement officers to specified mental health records.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-739 - Bow Hunting - Possession of Handguns for Protection - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from restricting licensed bow hunters who are at least 21 years old from carrying a handgun for personal protection.
HB-968 - District Court Commissioners - Possession of Handguns on District Court Premises - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Prohibiting any restriction against a commissioner carrying a handgun on District Court premises if the commissioner has a valid handgun permit.
HB - 1057 - Criminal Law - Robbery - Oral Claim of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Prohibiting a person from committing or attempting to commit a robbery by making an oral claim that the person has possession of a dangerous weapon; and establishing a penalty for a violation of the Act.
HB-1066 - Criminal Law - Robbery and Burglary - Pharmacies - NO POSITION
Hearing Date March 6, 1:00pm
Prohibiting an individual from taking unauthorized possession of a specified controlled dangerous substance in a specified manner; prohibiting an individual from employing or displaying a dangerous weapon during the commission of a robbery of a pharmacy; prohibiting a person from breaking into a pharmacy with the intent to steal, take, or carry away a specified controlled dangerous substance; establishing penalties for a violation of the Act; etc.
HB-1100 - Public Safety - Restrictions on Possession of Firearms - Convicted Felons and People With Mental Disorders - OPPOSE
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Prohibiting a person from possessing a firearm if the person has been convicted of a felony or, under specified circumstances, suffers from a mental disorder or has been confined to a specified facility for a specified period of time; establishing a penalty for a violation of the Act; prohibiting a court from suspending any part of a specified mandatory minimum sentence; etc.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-1104 - Criminal Law - Use of Firearm in Commission of Crime of Violence - Felony - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Reclassifying as a felony the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony or crime of violence.
HB-1113 - Public Safety - Possession of Stolen Regulated Firearms - Felony - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Establishing that a person who violates provisions of law regarding the possession, sale, transfer, or disposal of a stolen regulated firearm is guilty of a felony and on conviction subject to specified penalties.
HB - 1114 - Dangerous Convicted Offenders Firearm Ban - OPPOSE
Hearing Date, February 21, 1:00pm
Expanding the prohibition against the possession of a regulated firearm by specified persons to include the possession of any firearm; and expanding the prohibition against the sale of a regulated firearm to specified persons to include the sale of any firearm.
HB - 1135 - Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Qualifications - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 21, 1:00pm
Prohibiting the Secretary of State Police from issuing a handgun permit to a person who the Secretary finds is prohibited from possessing a regulated firearm, is an illegal alien, has been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions, has a pending charge for a felony or a misdemeanor for which a sentence of imprisonment for more than 1 year may be imposed, or has not completed a firearms safety training course unless a specified ground for exemption applies; etc.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-1310 - Regulated Firearms - Database - Applications for Dealer's License - Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements - OPPOSE
No Hearing Scheduled - Assigned To Rules Committee
Authorizing the Department of State Police to make specified information available to aid the investigation of those who are armed and prohibited from possessing a firearm; requiring the Secretary of State Police or the Secretary's designee to disapprove an application for a State-regulated firearms dealer's license if the Secretary or designee determines that the applicant intends a specified person to participate or hold a specified interest in the management or operation of the business for which the license is sought; etc.
Postion Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
HB-1321 - Public Safety - Firearms Regulation by Local Jurisdictions - OPPOSE
No Hearing Scheduled - Assigned To Rules Committee
Creating a specified exception to the State preemption of a political subdivision's authority relating to firearms; authorizing a political subdivision to require a specified person to report the purchase of specified firearms; and authorizing a political subdivision to require a specified report to include specified information.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
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5. Senate Bills 2012
SB-64 - Public Safety -Machine Gun Registration - Notice To Renew - SUPPORT
Heard on February 2 at 1:00pm
Requiring the Secretary of State Police, on or before March 15 in each year succeeding the registration of a machine gun, to notify the registrant in writing of the requirement to renew the registration.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
SB-439 - Frederick County - Alcoholic Beverages - Citations Issued By Inspectors - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 24, 1:00pm
Removing Frederick County from the list of counties whose alcoholic beverages inspectors are prohibited from carrying a weapon when issuing a citation for specified violations.
SB-512 - Regulated Firearms - Database - Applications for Dealer's License - Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements - OPPOSE
Hearing Date February 23, 1:00pm
Authorizing the Department of State Police to make specified information available to aid the investigation of those who are armed and prohibited from possessing a firearm; requiring the Secretary of State Police or the Secretary's designee to disapprove an application for a State-regulated firearms dealer's license if the Secretary or designee determines that the applicant intends a specified person to participate or hold a specified interest in the management or operation of the business for which the license is sought; etc.
Position Statement and Action Plan Are Located Here
SB-514 - Public Safety - Law Enforcement Handgun Disposal - Deceased Officers - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 23, 1:00pm
Authorizing a law enforcement agency to transfer the handgun of a law enforcement officer who is killed or dies in the performance of duty to specified members of the deceased officer's family or to the deceased officer's estate; and authorizing a law enforcement agency to render the handgun of a deceased officer inoperable before transfer.
SB-588- Bow Hunting - Possession of Handguns for Protection - SUPPORT
Hearing Date February 28, 1:00pm
Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from restricting licensed bow hunters who are at least 21 years old from carrying a handgun for personal protection.
SB-640 - Public Safety - Possession of Firearms - Crimes Committed in Other States - OPPOSE
Hearing Date February 23, 1:00pm
Prohibiting a person from possessing a regulated firearm, rifle, or shotgun if the person was previously convicted of an offense under the laws of another state or the United States that would constitute a crime of violence or a violation of specified provisions of law if committed in this State.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
SB-803 - Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Exemption from Training Course - NO POSITION
Hearing Date February 23, 1:00pm
Providing an exemption from specified requirements to complete a specified firearms training course if an individual is a retired law enforcement officer of a unit of the federal government, the State, or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
SB-815 - Criminal Law - Robbery - Oral Claim of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon - NO POSITION
Hearing Date March 13, 1:00pm
Prohibiting a person from committing or attempting to commit a robbery by making an oral claim that the person has possession of a dangerous weapon; and establishing a penalty for a violation of the Act.
SB-911 - Public Safety - Firearms Regulation by Local Jurisdictions - OPPOSE
No Hearing Scheduled - Assigned to Rules Committee
Creating a specified exception to the State preemption of a political subdivision's authority relating to firearms; and authorizing a political subdivision to require a specified person to report the purchase of specified firearms; and authorizing a political subdivision to require a specified report to include specified information.
Position Statement and Action Plan Can Be Found Here
SB-916 - Criminal Law - Robbery and Burglary - Pharmacies - NO POSITION
No Hearing Scheduled - Assigned to Rules Committee
Prohibiting an individual from taking unauthorized possession of a specified controlled dangerous substance in a specified manner; prohibiting an individual from employing or displaying a dangerous weapon during the commission of a robbery of a pharmacy; prohibiting a person from breaking into a pharmacy with the intent to steal, take, or carry away a specified controlled dangerous substance; establishing penalties for a violation of the Act; etc.
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Maryland Shall Issue®, Inc.
1332 Cape Saint Claire Road #342
Annapolis, Maryland 21409
410-849-9197
Mission Statement: Maryland Shall Issue® is an all volunteer, non-partisan effort dedicated to the preservation and advancement of all gunowners' rights in Maryland, with a primary goal of CCW reform to allow all law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon; and to the education of the community to the awareness that 'shall issue' laws have, in all cases, resulted in decreased rates of violent crime.
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1332 Cape Saint Claire Road #342
Annapolis, Maryland 21409
410-849-9197
Mission Statement: Maryland Shall Issue® is an all volunteer, non-partisan effort dedicated to the preservation and advancement of all gunowners' rights in Maryland, with a primary goal of CCW reform to allow all law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon; and to the education of the community to the awareness that 'shall issue' laws have, in all cases, resulted in decreased rates of violent crime.
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