Posted by Phil Lee at pflee@NOSPAMwdn.com (64.24.91.108) on February 09, 2003 at 12:24:
Garagiola Introduces Assault Weapons Ban Bill
One Third of Senate Have Cosponsored SB494
Annapolis, MD. -- On February 3, 2003, Senator Rob Garagiola (D-Montgomery) introduced SB 494 to ban assault weapons in Maryland. Already, one-third of his Senate colleagues have signed onto the bill and more are expected to support it.
"This bill is not about taking hunting rifles from lawful citizens," said Garagiola "It is about keeping the Street Sweeper assault shotgun, the FN FAL military rifle and the Bushmaster assault rifle - weapons designed to kill people - off the street."
"In less than 20 months, the Federal ban on assault weapons will expire, indicated Garagiola. I am concerned that congress and the President will not move to extend the ban and as a result these weapons will be back on the street."
A U.S. Department of Justice study conducted after enactment of the Federal ban illustrated that criminal use of the banned guns declined. Trace requests for assault weapons declined 20% in the first calendar year after the ban took effect.
"This legislation is not about taking anything away from gun owners," stated Garagiola. "It is about maintaining the status quo and closing some loopholes."
In Maryland, assault pistols are already banned. In the first 6 months after the 1994 ban, Baltimore City Police Department recoveries of assault pistols were 55% fewer than would have been expected had there been no ban.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hear the bill on February 27.
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See how this press release has been coordinated with MAHA.
The current (2/9/03) sponsors of SB494 are: Senators Garagiola, Conway, Currie, Exum, Forehand, Grosfeld, Hollinger, Hughes, Jones, Kasemeyer, Kelley, Lawlah, McFadden, Pinsky, Ruben, and Teitelbaum.
See for more information about gun bills being considered by the Maryland Legislature.