| ***** The information contained in this email may not be copied or reproduced in full or in part without proper and full attribution to John H. Josselyn, and 2A Maryland. ***** Greetings! The 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly convened today at Noon, and already we are seeing how difficult this Session will be. There seems to be an effort to divide our forces by scheduling hearings on three different bills in three different Committees on the same day and at the same time. You can help us to protect your rights by urging your friends, fellow club members and associates to join the 2A Maryland email system. You can safely share this email by copying and pasting the link below into a standard email to fellow gun rights advocates:Click here to for the link to Legislative Report #01 on our website. |
| John H. Josselyn2A MarylandClick here to send your comments or suggestions. |
| In this issue: Hearings Scheduled for January 15th on two Senate gun bills & one House bill.2020 Session Gun BillsUPDATE #2: Baltimore County Council Bill 72-19, the Secure All Firearms Effectively (SAFE) Act – Hearing Schedule and Voting DateHelp support 2A Maryland by Joining the NRA or renewing your NRA membership. |
| 2020 Session: Hearings Scheduled on Pre-filed Gun Bills |
| Hearings on three of the pre-filed gun bills are now scheduled in two different Senate Committees and a House Committee, at the same time, and on the same day. Committee guidelines for witness testimony have been updated. See links below. HB 0004 Public Safety – Rifles and Shotguns – Secondary TransactionsLargely a copy of HB 786 as amended during the 2019 Session, severely limiting the loan of a rifle or shotgun except under certain limited circumstances, prohibiting the loan of a rifle or shotgun by a gun club to a club member, and requiring a NICS check through a licensed dealer for the sale and transfer of a rifle or shotgun. OPPOSEHearing: JUD Committee 01/15/2020 @ 1 PMNote: Testimony limited to 90 seconds per witness.Click here to download the JUD Committee witness guidelines. SB 0039 Public Safety – Regulated Firearm – DefinitionAdding Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 and AM-30 rifles to the list of so-called assault weapons. OPPOSE Hearing: JPR Committee 01/15/2020 @ 1 PM NOTE: The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR) has made several very significant changes in the witness and testimony guidelines!Click here to download the new JPR Committee witness guidelines. SB 0055 Income Tax Checkoff – Maryland Assault Weapons Buyback FundCreating seed money to promote an “Assault Weapons Buyback Fund” for the State to purchase or “buy-back” so-called and broadly defined “assault weapons,” to include (under this section of the code only) handguns and Class 3 firearms, (i.e. machine guns). Maintaining the “buy-back” fund with voluntary contributions via a “check-off” box on Maryland income tax returns. Setting the prices the State will pay for “assault weapons.” The program would be developed and administered by the Maryland State Police. OPPOSE Hearing: Senate B&T Committee 01/15/2020 @ 1 PMClick here to download the B&T Committee witness guidelines. |
| Links to 2A Maryland’s Website Information & PDF Downloads |
| WEBSITE PAGES 2A Maryland Home Page Bill Tracking Page by Type & Chamber Bill Synopses & Positions Page Legislators & Committee Contact Info(under construction – updates pending)PDF DOWNLOADS Bill Tracker Status & Hearing Info Bill Synopses and Positions |
| 2020 Session: Gun Bills and Hunting Bills |
| Senate Gun Bills SB 0005 Public Safety – Maryland Cyber Reserve – EstablishedPending review of bill text. SB 0039 Public Safety – Regulated Firearm – DefinitionAdding Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 and AM-30 rifles to the list of so-called assault weapons. OPPOSE Hearing: JPR Committee 01/15/2020 @ 1 PM SB 0043 Licensing – Fingerprint RequirementCreating an exemption from the fingerprint requirement for certain license applicants who have already been fingerprinted for various other reasons. Appears to conflict with FBI guidelines. No Position SB 0055 Income Tax Checkoff – Maryland Assault Weapons Buyback FundCreating seed money to promote an “Assault Weapons Buyback Fund” for the State to purchase or “buy-back” so-called and broadly defined “assault weapons,” to include (under this section of the code only) handguns and Class 3 firearms, (i.e. machine guns). Maintaining the “buy-back” fund with voluntary contributions via a “check-off” box on Maryland income tax returns. Setting the prices the State will pay for “assault weapons.” The program would be developed and administered by the Maryland State Police. OPPOSE Hearing: B&T Committee 01/15/2020 @ 1 PM House Gun Bills HB 0004 Public Safety – Rifles and Shotguns – Secondary TransactionsLargely a copy of HB 786 as amended during the 2019 Session, severely limiting the loan of a rifle or shotgun except under certain limited circumstances, prohibiting the loan of a rifle or shotgun by a gun club to a club member, and requiring a NICS check through a licensed dealer for the sale and transfer of a rifle or shotgun. OPPOSE. HB 0035 Public Safety – Firearm Telematics – StudySeeks to compel a Maryland State Police study on means for installing GPS tracking devices in firearms to locate lost and/or stolen firearms. Potentially useful in tracking the whereabouts of legally owned firearms and firearm owners. OPPOSE HB 0047 Public Safety – Handgun Qualification License – Training ExemptionCreating an exemption from the HQL training requirement which would apply to Maryland residents who are law enforcement officers serving in the surrounding contiguous states. No Position Senate Hunting Bills SB 0025 Hunting and Fishing Licenses – Active Military, Former Prisoners of War, Recipients of the Purple Heart Award, and Disabled VeteransRepealing a sunset provision and making permanent a requirement that the DNR report various data on the number of hunting and fishing licenses issued to recipients of the Purple Heart. No Position SB 0086 Fishing and Hunting RightsDeclaring that the State should (not shall) forever preserve residents’ right to hunt and fish, subject to such laws the Maryland General Assembly enacts. SUPPORT House Hunting Bills No hunting bills filed in the House to date. |
| UPDATE #2: Baltimore County Executive “Johnny O” Pushes Legislation to Punish Gun Dealers and Restrict Gun Shows Reminder: The best opportunity to offer comments on the bill will be during the Council work session on Tuesday, January 14th at 2 PM. when the bill will be discussed. Each citizen will be permitted to testify for three minutes. New info : On Monday, January 6th, the Baltimore County Police Department hosted another meeting with licensed gun dealers. The meeting produced questions for which the BCoPD did not have answers. Background information from last report: On November 26 th, 2A Maryland sent a PIA to the Baltimore County Police Department. (See links below for a PDF copy of the PIA and Baltimore County’s response.) Bill 72-19, the Secure All Firearms Safely Effectively (SAFE) Act, was formally introduced at the County Council meeting on Monday, December 16, 2019. The best opportunity to offer comments on the bill will be during the Council work session on Tuesday, January 14 at 2 PM. when the bill will be discussed. Each citizen will be permitted to testify for three minutes. A voting session on Bill 72-19, the Secure All Firearms Safely Effectively (SAFE) Act is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st at 6:00 PM. Click here to download 2A Maryland’s Public Information Request Click here to download Baltimore County’s response to 2A Maryland’s PIA. Click here to download the Executive Summary of the proposed legislation. Click here to download the actual proposed legislation. |