Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.152) on January 20, 2001 at 18:17:
Bill would change Gun Safety Act
Ballistics 'fingerprinting' under attack
Margie Hyslop, Washington Times, 1/20/01, C7
ANNAPOLIS--Maryland Delegate Kevin Kelly has filed a bill to repeal the ballistics "fingerprinting" component of Maryland's new Gun Safety Act.
The Allegany County Democrat is also asking Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. to clarify parts of the law that have deterred manufacturers from allowing their handguns to be shipped for sale in Maryland.
Mr. Kelly said proponents of the bill wanted to create what amounts to a ban on private handgun ownership in Maryland.
"That was their true intention, and they've been very successful so far," Mr. Kelly said, through a provision of the law mandating that shell casings be shipped with any new handgun sent for sale in Maryland after Sept. 30.
Many gun makers have balked at altering their processes to accommodate Maryland. They are also wary of liability they may incur by providing a fired shell casing that dealers must relay to state police, who are compiling forensic data from the casings in a computer.
Last month, The Washington Times reported that handgun dealers were running out of new guns to sell during their busiest sales period because manufacturers and distributors weren't willing to deal with Maryland law.
Since the law went into effect Oct. 1, Maryland State Police have entered 313 shell casings from new handguns sold in the state, said state police spokesman Maj. Greg Shipley.
Those casings represented guns made by 19 manufacturers, Maj. Shipley said.
Maryland's Handgun Roster Board, which decides what may be sold in Maryland, has approved 1,428 models for sale by 188 manufacturers.
But Al Rolinec, owner of the Gun Rack in Burtonsville, said there are only four manufacturers now from whom he can get any model he needs, and that's because he deals with them directly.
"Just a couple of hours ago, I had to turn away a guy who came in with $900 cash in hand," Mr. Rolinec said, for a gun he could easily have purchased in Maryland before Oct. 1.
Most guns are sold to dealers through distributors, not manufacturers. The new law requires manufacturers to collect the shell casings for guns to be sold in Maryland, although manufacturers generally don't know where the gun will be sold when they make it.
Just this week, Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers began a letter-writing campaign to state police and legislators asking that they be allowed to fire and collect the shell casings.
Gun maker Glock has given North Carolina distributor Arrington exclusive rights to sell its handguns in Maryland in exchange for Arrington's agreeing to fire and collect shell casings.
That arrangement is now under review, Maj. Shipley said.
House Speaker Casper R. Taylor, Jr., Allegany County Democrat, said he opposes repeal of the ballistics fingerprinting mandate because he believes it's an important anti-crime tool.
Mr. Taylor and Gov. Parris N. Glendening oppose lifting the requirement from manufacturers.