2024 - SB378 (HB659) - Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun

[dblas]

Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun

Establishing the felony of theft of a handgun; and establishing a penalty for theft of a handgun of, for a first conviction, imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both and, for a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $2,500 or both.

Link to Senate Bill: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/bills/sb/sb0378F.pdf
Senate Bill Hearing Date: Feb 2, 2024 - Senate Judicial Proceedings

Link to House Bill:

 

[Afrikeber]

Theft of a handgun ? Ok life in prison with no discretion from judge that being mandatory sentence.

 

[fredthe]

Fine as long as the prosecutors charge them with it, and not just use it as a big club to get a guilty plea to a lesser charge.

 

[RFBfromDE]

Already illegal?

Or is this making it more illegaler?

 

[fredthe]

Already illegal?

Or is this making it more illegaler?

My read is if the gun is worth less than $1,500 it was only a misdemeanor. This seems to add "guns" as a seperate category of theft. But IANAL.

 

[fredthe]

Adding that MSI supports this.

 

[BurkeM]

Already illegal?

Or is this making it more illegaler?

Currently, stealing a $1,200 long gun from an FFL is treated the same as shoplifting a stick of chewing gum.

Misdemeanor.

 

[RFBfromDE]

Currently, stealing a $1,200 long gun from an FFL is treated the same as shoplifting a stick of chewing gum.

Misdemeanor.

Thank you.

In this case, more illegaler may be good!

 

[Mark75H]

Current MD law firearms theft is misdemeanor MAX $500 fine, MAX 6 months

 

[RFBfromDE]

Adding that MSI supports this.

 

[JoeyBimmer]

Last session the legislature decreased the penalties for murder. It is wild how people who roll in politics do not have consistent standards.

If you want to be tough on crime, then be tough on crime. If you want to see people and babies murdered, then see people and babies murdered.

It makes no sense to me. People are weak and I suspect they do this simply to conform.

 

[JoeyBimmer]

Criminal Law - Theft of a Handgun

Establishing the felony of theft of a handgun; and establishing a penalty for theft of a handgun of, for a first conviction, imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to $1,000 or both and, for a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to $2,500 or both.

Link to Bill: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2024RS/bills/sb/sb0378F.pdf
Bill Hearing Date: Feb 2, 2024 - Senate Judicial Proceedings

Bipartisan.

 

[INMY01TA]

I expect it to go nowhere because it actually punishes criminals. I expect rather to see a penalty for the victim of said gun theft.

 

[Steel Hunter]

Current MD law firearms theft is misdemeanor MAX $500 fine, MAX 6 months

That's pretty pathetic given a lot of firearms are worth more than $500. I also doubt MD prosecutors are giving anywhere near the max unless it's a repeat offender.

 

[gtodave]

We'll see if they can "walk and chew gum" this year. They sure as sh!t didn't last year.

 

[dblas]

House Hearing scheduled for Feb 14 at 1:00 PM in House Judiciary.

 

[dblas]

Senate bill hearing is scheduled for today (Feb 1) at 1:00 PM in Senate Judicial Proceedings.
(Sorry for the late update)

 

[Harrys]

More BS on paper save the trees

 

[Squaregrouper]

Currently, stealing a $1,200 long gun from an FFL is treated the same as shoplifting a stick of chewing gum.

Misdemeanor.

Pre Covid, I reminded the MGA that stealing a Glock pistol was the same crime as stealing a Schwinn bicycle. They didn't seem to care.