Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.179) on December 30, 2000 at 10:38:
Curran asked to clarify gun law
Tom Stuckey, Wash. Times, 12/28/2000, page C1
ANNAPOLIS -- House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr., fearing that the state's gun-safety bill has turned into a ban on handgun sales, asked Attorney General J. Joseph Curran yesterday to move quickly to clear up confusion about the law that took effect three months ago.
"The spirit of the law, as I voted for it, was to gain gun safety, but not to gain a gun ban," Mr. Taylor, Allegany Democrat, said in an interview.
One section of the law that took effect Oct. 1 prohibits handguns from being sold in Maryland unless the manufacturer includes a shell casing fired from the gun. Casings are turned over to Maryland State Police, and "ballistic fingerprints," markings left when the gun is fired, are entered into a computer database.
State police say the ballistic fingerprints will help them trace weapons used in crimes.
Mr. Taylor said gun dealers tell him that manufacturers are not shipping weapons with casings into Maryland, and they are running out of guns to sell.
If the problem is not cleared up quickly, Mr. Taylor said, he will support legislation at the 2001 General Assembly session to amend the law so dealers can acquire and sell handguns.
"I am frustrated by the lack of a definitive, written answer to a number of questions posed by gun dealers from around the state," Mr. Taylor said in his letter.
The speaker asked Mr. Curran for written answers to several questions, including whether dealers can test fire weapons and provide casings to state police and if state police can collect fired cases before guns are turned over to new owners.
"In good faith, many members of the General Assembly voted for this measure as a strong gun safety bill, and they, as well as I, were assured that it would not result in an outright ban on handguns," the letter said. "Such a measure could not have passed the General Assembly in the 2000 session."
Mr. Curran said he is not aware of any problem. He said his office has worked with gun dealers and state police to make sure regulations are clear and understood by everyone.
"If there is a problem, we'll be happy to try to help solve it," he said.
Maj. Thomas Bowers, chief of criminal enforcement for the state police, said guns are being sold in Maryland, and "we are receiving shell casings."
"There are, in fact, several manufacturers that are currently complying. There are several that have indicated they are in the process of retooling factories in order to comply," Maj. Bowers said. "Really, we have had no manufacturer that has said absolutely, 'I will not sell guns in Maryland.'"
Gun dealers say many manufacturers have instructed distributors not to ship into Maryland because the market is so small it is not worth the effort and money to fire casings and pack them with handguns. Dealers say sales have been much slower than usual during the holiday season because they have so few guns in stock.
Maj. Greg Shipley, spokesman for the state police, said only a little more than 100 ballistic fingerprints have been entered in the computer system since Oct. 1.
The gun bill was a major part of Gov. Parris N. Glendening's legislative package at the 2000 session. President Clinton came to Maryland for the bill-signing ceremony, urging other states to follow Maryland's lead.
In addition to the section on ballistic fingerprinting, the first to take effect in the nation, the bill prohibits handguns from being sold without an external triggerlock. It also bars anyone younger than 30 with a juvenile record fro violent crimes from buying a handgun.
Beginning in 2002, Marylanders will have to complete a state-approved gun safety course before buying a firearm.
By Jan. 1, 2003, all handguns sold will have to be equipped with built-in locking devices that prevent them from being fired by unauthorized users.