Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.54) on February 03, 2002 at 10:18:
In Reply to: Del. Franchot sponsors legislation to license firearms in Maryland posted by Phil Lee on January 07, 2001 at 14:05:
Del. Franchot sponsored gun control measures for Maryland in 2000
During the year 2000 session, Del. Franchot was a sponsor for HB 1139 which provided that it is the misdemeanor of reckless endangerment if a person uses a handgun to place the person's spouse, parent, or child in fear of death or serious physical injury. This bill ignored placing person's spouse, parent, or child in fear of death or serious physical injury by knife, baseball bat, pipe, shotgun, rifle and many other weapons. It ignored placing aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and the average person on the street. It ignored so much that it is clear this bill has no purpose other than make it appear that the delegate is doing something about violence.
Del. Franchot also sponsored HB 1132 making it illegal to transport handguns in Maryland. Specifically the bill provides that: "Any person who shall wear, carry, or transport any handgun, whether concealed or open, upon or about his person, and any person who shall wear, carry or knowingly transport any handgun, whether concealed or open, in any vehicle traveling upon the public roads, highways, waterways, or airways or upon roads or parking lots generally used by the public in this State shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person is knowingly transporting the handgun; ..." So, you could not even carry your legally owned pistol to the range.
Del. Franchot sponsored HB 1131 to require licencing of owners of regulated firearms and to require a safety course. The safety course was also a part of SB 211 which was enacted into law.
Del. Franchot sponsored HB 279 (the House version of the SB 211 which passed) to prohibit a firearms dealer from selling, renting, or transferring in the State any handgun manufactured after December 31, 2001, unless the handgun has an integrated mechanical safety device and to require a safety course before regulated firearms may be purchased. The safety course is a prior restraint on a Constitutional right which (for the first amendment) has been held illegal for the government to do.
: HOUSE BILL 1131
: File Code: Public Safety
: Sponsored By:
: Delegates Franchot, Hixson, Shriver, and Heller
: Entitled:
: Regulated Firearms License
: Synopsis:
: Requiring the Secretary of the State Police to issue licenses to purchasers,
: renters, and transferors of regulated firearms whose applications to
: purchase, rent, or transfer firearms are not disapproved; specifying the
: form and contents of the license; requiring a safety course; etc.