HB 2           Bill is in the House - First Reading Judiciary

Public Safety - Handgun Permits - Repeal of Finding Requirement

House: Judiciary     SAS SUPPORTED January 22, 2008. Would make self-defense a "good and substantial" reason to carry a firearm; currently limited primarily to protection of material goods and money. 

HB 1060 - (Heard in House and Senate) - Castle Doctrine - No liability Passed out of House; DIED in the drawer of the Chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, Senator Brian Frosh.

Sponsored by Delegates Frank, Aumann, Bates, Beitzel, Boteler, Bromwell, Conaway, Costa, Dwyer, Eckardt, Elliott, Elmore, George, Haddaway, James, Jennings, Kach, Kelly, Kipke, Krebs, McComas, McConkey, Myers, Norman, O'Donnell, Riley, Schuh, Schuler, Shank, Shewell, Smigiel, Sossi, Stifler, Stocksdale, Stull, Walkup, Impallaria, Kirk, and Robinson, would protect a law-abiding citizen from being liable for damages for a personal injury or death of an individual who enters his or her home or place of business with the intent to commit a crime.  SAS SUPPORTED March 5. 

HB 1061     Bill is in the House - First Reading Judiciary

Public Safety - Denial of Permit to Carry Handgun - Return of Application Fee

House: Judiciary   SAS SUPPORTED March 11, 2008.  Current law amounts to a huge tax on those who are denied permits. 

SB 944       Bill is in the Senate - Re-referred Judicial Proceedings

Governor's Emergency Powers - Seizure of Firearms and Ammunition

Senate: Judicial Proceedings     SAS Strongly Supports.  New Orleans citizens were sitting ducks during Katrina because their arms and ammunition were seized.   

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SAS OPPOSED the following bills in 2008

*SB 42        Bill is in the House - First Reading Judiciary

Family Law - Temporary Protective Orders - Surrender of Firearms; Crossfiled with HB 640

House: Judiciary and Senate: Judicial Proceedings   SAS OPPOSED Senate February 28, 2008.  Senate Passed with Amendments Judicial Proceedings. This would result in the seizure of one's private property without due process.  It is too easy for a larger and stronger male to subdue, harm, and even kill females and children by other means, and FBI statistics show other weapons, including body parts, are more likely to be used than firearms in violent attacks.  Also, there is no provision for recovery by the rightful owner, including the victim, of firearms stolen, on loan, or in possession for repair. 

HB 108       Bill is in the House: Judiciary     Senate: Judicial Proceedings  

Public Safety - Electronic Weapons - Procedures and Reports

SAS OPPOSED January 24, 2008.  NOTE: The amendments changed this bill from a "prohibition" to a reporting requirement.  See bill of same number in Senate.

 HB 517       Bill is in the House - Unfavorable Judiciary

Regulated Firearms - Encoded Ammunition - Tax

House: Judiciary AND Ways and Means.  SAS OPPOSED February 26, 2008.  This bill would effectively kill gun sports and gun and ammunition industries and sales in Maryland and turn law-abiding recreational shooters into criminals.  This is a de facto gun registration and ammunition ban bill.  Thank you, Delegates!
 

HB 640       Bill is in the House - Withdrawn Judiciary *Note:  Posted under House as SB-42.

Family Law - Temporary Protective Orders - Surrender of Firearms; Cross-filed with SB 42.

House: Judiciary     (Heard: February 21, 2008, 1:00 p.m.)   SAS opposes this and all similar legislation.  FBI statistics show other weapons, including body parts, are more likely to be used than firearms in violent assaults, and there is no provision for recovery by the rightful owner (including the victim) of firearms stolen, on loan, or in possession for repair. 

 

HB 659       Bill is in the House - Withdrawn Judiciary 

Domestic Violence - Temporary Protective Order - Additional Relief

House: Judiciary     (Heard: February 21, 2008, 1:00 p.m.)   SAS opposes.  There is no provision for recovery by the rightful owner (including the victim) of firearms stolen, on loan, or in possession for repair. 
 

HB 849       Bill is in the House - Unfavorable Judiciary 

Public Safety - Restrictions on Possession of Firearms - Conviction of Disqualifying Crime and Protective Order Respondent

House: Judiciary     SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  Thank you, Delegates!

 HB 880       Bill is in the House - Unfavorable Judiciary

Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Reporting Lost or Stolen; Crossfiled with: SENATE BILL 585

House: Judiciary   SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.     A victim of a theft would be victimized twice. Law-abiding citizens already report stolen property in a timely manner. This bill is nothing but yet another intimidation tactic in the endless effort by anti-second amendment extremists to nibble away at our rights and will do nothing to reduce crime.  Thank you, Delegates!
 

*HB 900       Bill is in the Senate - Passed House Judiciary

Criminal Procedure - Restrictions on Pretrial Release - Offenses Involving Firearms - Repeat Offenders

House: Judiciary    SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another. 

*SB 914       Status as of April 2, 2008:  PASSED

Handgun Roster Board - Membership

Senate: Judicial Proceedings    See HB-1565.  SAS OPPOSED in Senate March 11, 2008.  Laid over in the Senate.  This board should be disbanded as it is completely ineffective at stopping violence.  It is a product of mass hysteria spread by people who were traumatized in some way by a crime involving a firearm coupled with a push from the United Nations, an organization that includes dictatorships, monarchies, and countries who don't recognize the humanity of women.  The suggestion that only anti-gun extremists are "advocates against gun violence" is preposterous.  Second Amendment Sisters, Inc., for example, is against all violence, including gun violence.  This is such a bad bill that Senator Frosh actually removed his name as a sponsor and left Senator Muse holding the bag. 
 

HB 964       Bill is in the House - Recommit to Judiciary

Criminal Procedure - No Good Time for Gun Crime

House: Judiciary   SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another.   Singling out crimes involving guns makes no sense.  Most brutal rapes and child molestations involve use of brute force against smaller and weaker individuals.  Focusing on crimes involving guns does nothing to stop these most heinous crimes which involve high recidivism rates. 

 

HB 1378     Bill is in the House - Unfavorable Judiciary

Public Safety - Possession and Sale of Ammunition for Regulated Firearms - Penalties

House: Judiciary    SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.   This is yet another bill that will only hurt the law-abiding and do nothing but add red tape for citizens and those seeking to prevent and solve crimes.  This bill and the legislation it replaces needs to be discarded.  It is the first step towards criminalizing the ownership of all ammunition, as more firearms are arbitrarily added to the "assault weapons" laundry list.

 

HB 1448     Bill is in the House - Bill is in the House - Unfavorable Judiciary

Family Law - Final Protective Orders - Surrender of Firearms

House: House Rules and Executive Nominations  (Hearing: March 20, 2008, 1:00 p.m.)  SAS opposes.  It is too easy for a larger and stronger male to subdue, harm, and even kill females and children by other means, and FBI statistics show other weapons, including body parts, are more likely to be used than firearms.  There is no provision for speedy recovery by the rightful owner of firearms stolen, on loan, or in possession for repair.  If the firearm in the specified person's possession belongs to the victim, the victim would be unable to recover the item and thus remain defenseless.  The victim or lawful owner should be able to recover their property with undue burden.
 

HB 1474     Bill is in the House - Re-referred Judiciary  

Criminal Law - Use of Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence or a Felony (Hearing: March 11, 2008, 1:00 p.m.)  SAS Opposes.  Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another.

 HB 1565     Bill is in the House - Withdrawn Judiciary

Handgun Roster Board - Membership

House: Judiciary.  See SB-914 listed in House.  SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  This board should be disbanded as it is completely ineffective in stopping violence.  It also is unconstitutional (the U.S. constitution stands in Maryland).  The suggestion that only anti-gun extremists are "advocates against gun violence" is preposterous.  Second Amendment Sisters, Inc., for example, is against all violence, including gun violence.  We already have former MAHA/Ceasefire members occupying seats in the Maryland General Assembly and also occupying high posts state-wide.  This is such a bad bill that Senator Frosh actually removed his name as a sponsor from the Senate version and left Senator Muse holding the bag.  
 

SB 42        Bill is in the Senate - Unfavorable Judiciary

Family Law - Temporary Protective Orders - Surrender of Firearms; Crossfiled with HB 640

Senate: Judicial Proceedings   (House heard March 26, 2008) SAS OPPOSED February 28, 2008.  It is too easy for a larger and stronger male to subdue, harm, and even kill females and children by other means, and FBI statistics show other weapons, including body parts, are more likely to be used than firearms in violent attacks.  Also, there is no provision for recovery by the rightful owner, including the victim, of firearms stolen, on loan, or in possession for repair.
 

*HB 108       Bill is in the SENATE - First Reading Judicial Proceedings

Public Safety - Electronic Weapons - Procedures and Reports

House: Judiciary     Senate: Judicial Proceedings     (Hearing: March 25, 2008, 1:00 p.m.)
This bill was formerly a prohibition of Tasers and similar weapons, which was amended to a reporting requirement.  SAS opposed the House version in written and oral testimony. and testified that, since the vast majority of women and the disabled do not qualify for concealed carry permits, this less-than-fully-effective tool is the only remaining choice for self defense. 
*Note: it has only a House number but IS being heard by the Senate.

SB 244       Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Judicial Proceedings

Criminal Law - Use of Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence or a Felony

Senate: Judicial Proceedings     SAS opposes. Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another.  
 

SB 299       Bill is in the Senate - Unfavorable Judicial Proceedings

Public Safety - Possession of Regulated Firearm by a Person Under 21 Years - Penalty; Crossfiled with House Bill 877

Thank you, Senators!   
 

SB 558       Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Judicial Proceedings 

Criminal Procedure - Consecutive or Concurrent Sentence for Unlawful Possession of Regulated Firearm - Diminution Credit Eligibility

Senate: Judicial Proceedings    SAS opposes. Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another.
 

SB 585       Bill is in the Senate - Unfavorable Judicial Proceedings

Public Safety - Regulated Firearms - Reporting Lost or Stolen; Cross-filed with HB 880.   This was one of the most important bills of the session.  Thank you, Senators!
 

SB 586       Bill is in the Senate - Unfavorable Judicial Proceedings

Public Safety - Restrictions on Possession of Firearms - Conviction of Disqualifying Crime and Protective Order Respondent

Thank you, Senators!
 

SB 642       Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Judicial Proceedings

Criminal Procedure - Restrictions on Pretrial Release - Offenses Involving Firearms - Repeat Offenders

Senate: Judicial Proceedings    SAS opposes.  Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another. 
 

SB 851       Bill is in the Senate - Re-referred Judicial Proceedings

Regulated Firearms - Applications for Dealer's License - Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements

Senate: Senate Judicial Proceedings.  SAS opposes.  This is a bill that moves Maryland closer to becoming a police state, and is using the General Assembly in an attempt to control the actions of a handful people.  

 

HB 900       Bill is in the SENATE - Passed House Judiciary

Criminal Procedure - Restrictions on Pretrial Release - Offenses Involving Firearms - Repeat Offenders

House: Judiciary    SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  Judges should have discretion to act based on the facts of the case, not be forced to impose cookie cutter justice that favors one violent criminal over another. 

SB 914       Status as of March 19, 2008:  Passed

Handgun Roster Board - Membership

Senate: Judicial Proceedings    (Hearing April 1, 2008)  SAS OPPOSED March 11, 2008.  This board should be disbanded as it is completely ineffective at stopping violence.  It is a product of mass hysteria spread by people who were traumatized in some way by a crime involving a firearm coupled with a push from the United Nations, an organization that includes dictatorships, monarchies, and countries who don't recognize the full humanity of women.  The suggestion that only anti-gun extremists are "advocates against gun violence" is preposterous.  Second Amendment Sisters, Inc., for example, is against all violence, including gun violence.  This is such a bad bill that Senator Frosh actually removed his name as a sponsor and left Senator Muse holding the bag. 

 

See the Maryland Shall Issue review of bills here.  It includes the email addresses for the House Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees ready to cut and paste.