PowPow
Where's the beef?
The main purpose of the HQL is to make the procedure to buy a handgun more onerous. That's all it's there for. To reduce the number of guns sold in MD (and thus reduce the size of the firearms owners community) by making it such a PITA that most people will just say, "never mind", and roll out.
You got one because you'll be damned if you let the bastards win. Think of it this way...every time an HQL is issued, the progressive plot to impossibly burden MDers' 2A rights has failed.
I disagree that the main purpose of the HQL is to make it harder to buy handguns. The main purpose of any gun control measure is to get people used to surrendering their rights. HQL is a placeholder for more gun control to come.
Once folks get used to the idea of needing to acquire an HQL to purchase a handgun, they will not be surprised when the state has sufficiently upgraded their systems so it can be applied to all firearm purchases. Wash, rinse, repeat.
