General Assembly Strengthens Gun Safety Laws
The 2018 Maryland General Assembly approved five bills that will increase gun safety and ensure that Maryland remains—with respect to firearms—one of the safest states in the nation.
The new laws are:
- Ban on Bump Stocks and Other Rapid-fire Trigger Accessories : Prevents a semi-automatic weapon—an “AR-15,” for example—from being converted into an automatic firearm, and ensures that no accessory can skirt the intent of the 1934 National Firearms Act’s ban on automatic weapons.
- Extreme Risk Protective Order (“ERPO”): Family members and law enforcement officers can request a court order to temporarily remove firearms when a person shows signs of being a danger to themselves or others. This bill was strongly opposed by pro-gun groups.
- Oversight of the Handgun Permit Review Board : Appointed by the governor, but with no criteria for these appointments, this board rules on appeals after an applicant is denied a wear-and-carry permit by the Maryland State Police. Since Governor Hogan took office, this board has more than doubled granted appeals for concealed carry permits. The new law creates timelines, requires annual reporting, and makes the HPRB more accountable for its actions and decisions.
- Funding for Evidence-Based Gun Violence Prevention Programs : Provides funds for public health programs designed to prevent the spread of gun violence, such as Safe Streets, Cure Violence, and Ceasefire. An advisory council will administer the funds granted to eligible cities and non-profits.
- Protect Maryland Survivors : Persons convicted of domestic abuse must turn in all guns they own, another important gun-safety victory.
Governor Larry Hogan—despite coordinated and heavy pressure from pro-gun groups—signed these five bills into law on April 24.
Thirty-plus other bills—had they been enacted by the General Assembly—would have weakened Maryland’s strong gun-safety laws. They were opposed by several firearms safety groups.
These bills would have:
- Allowed guns in churches and schools
- Lowered state standards for concealed-carry handgun permits to include unverified claims of self-defense
- Recognized as legitimate in Maryland concealed-carry handgun permits from neighboring states with weaker laws and standards, and
- Reduced the requirement of 16 hours for a wear-and-carry class to 8 hours
Compared with most states, Maryland’s firearms regulations are sensibly balanced between private ownership and use and public health and safety. Two advocacy groups—Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence and Maryland Moms Demand Action—are due major credit for their passionate help in gaining passage of the bills that promote safety as well as helping to ensure defeat of bills that would make us less safe.
For more information:
- Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence at mdpgv.org
- Maryland Moms Demand Action at momsdemandaction.org
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Maryland
Gren Whitman is the Acting Chair of Kent County Citizens to Prevent Gun Violence. This article is based on information provided by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence and the Baltimore Sun .
Common Sense for the Eastern Shore




