Thank you for posting this as I believe the discussion and your reasoning will help in my letter to my friendly neighborhood legislators.There are bills trickling in, and I don't want to clog up this thread with a bazillion posts for each one (dblas is already doing a good job of separate threads).
Folks can go to the MGA website and use the Filter query for "firearm" or other keywords to see what is filed:
House: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Index/house
Senate: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Index/senate
One particular bill that stands out because it has a bunch of cosponsors -
HB430 Insurance requirement for anyone "carrying" a firearm
(no exclusion for home carry; if convicted you supposedly "lose" your right to own/possess any firearm, but can get the charge dismissed pre-trial or remove the post-trial prohibition if you obtain said insurance coverage)
Synopsis
Altering the circumstances under which a person is disqualified from possessing a regulated firearm, a rifle, and a shotgun; prohibiting a person from wearing or carrying a firearm under certain circumstances unless the person has obtained certain liability insurance related to wearing and carrying a firearm up to $300,000; providing for the form and issuance of a citation for a violation of the Act; etc.
One of my many issues with this proposed legislation, if you have to use your firearm, you are charged with a crime, normally a felony. Insurance does not cover criminal acts, they cover civil acts. So, you are asking someone to pay for a policy that may not pay out. I believe that there have been a few cases lately of one of the big CCW carriers denying coverage. If insurance covered a criminal act, why not insure a heist and ask the insurance to pay out when you get caught or fail?
The largest group of new gun owners are women, specifically single women of color, I am not sure how other women feel but in the current economy, it would be a stretch to pay for yet another Fee to protect myself and my family.
That being said, if you did not have insurance, they take not just the firearm you are carrying but EVERYONE. I would think that would amount to a takings but I am not an attorney. It also makes this bill look like a big ole gun grab. Where is the compensation for taking what you have?
With the gun grabbing in mind, The MVA does not come out to your house and take every car in your name because you do not have insurance and drive on the street. (a vehicle can be a deadly weapon) The County does not come out and take your house if it is paid off and you have no insurance, and I guess we could say that the Government does not come out and penalize you because you do not have health insurance. (They may tax you to death)
Then you have the concealment part, if you are not supposed to pull your firearm unless you plan to use it, how would the officer know? Is he walking around looking for CCWs because they will have a quota of guns to get off of the street? I am sure we all are aware that Maryland has a registry that they use.
I have also seen someone term this bill as the "Barney Bill" I noted that it did not apply to unloaded firearms, only loaded. Whoever started that I commend you for your wit.
BTW, a 12 year old assisted with determining that, insurance will not cover a crime. What is that saying for those who proposed this legislation? SMH