Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) will have the opportunity to sign a bill banning so-called “ghost guns” after the state House this week passed the “Untraceable Firearms Bill” by a vote of 92-41.
The Senate had already approved the measure earlier this month, 35-11.
The Untraceable Firearms Bill, also known as SB 387, requires all firearms made after Oct. 22, 1968, to have a serial number etched into them.
It also alters the definition of “firearm” to include certain gun parts and kits, bans the sale of “ghost guns” starting on June 1, 2022, and bans the mere possession of “ghost guns” starting on March 1, 2023.
Violators face a misdemeanor charge that carries up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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“These untraceable firearms have become the weapon of choice for criminals,” Attorney General Brian E. Frosh said in a statement. “They are easily purchased over the internet without a background check, making them easily accessible to children, violent felons, domestic abusers, and others who are ineligible to own a firearm.”
“This bill closes a loophole that makes it difficult for law enforcement to do its job and creates a terrible public safety threat,” Frosh continued. “This legislation will save lives.”
Mark Oliva, the director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, told GunsAmerica via email that the firearms industry trade association is urging Gov. Hogan to veto the legislation as it puts “onerous burdens on firearm retailers and doesn’t do anything to improve public safety. “
“The Bureau of Justice Statistics consistently shows that criminals obtain their firearms through theft or the black market,” explained Oliva. “Criminals are known to obliterate markings on stolen guns and those illegally trafficked on the black market.”
Oliva noted other issues with the SB 387:
- This legislation would require serialization of privately-made firearms when there is no statutory guidance under the Gun Control Act that requires this.
- This requirement would make it impossible for owners of these firearms to repair these firearms because most gunsmiths do not have the proper tools to properly mark these firearms.
- This would put these firearm retailers at significant risk of liability should one of these firearms suffer a catastrophic failure resulting from marking that was affixed with proper and specialized tooling.
“The focus must be on enforcing criminal laws and putting those who defy the law behind bars, not creating new laws that criminalize a hobbyist that chooses to build their own firearm for personal use,” concluded Oliva.
Michael Ricci, a spokesperson for Gov. Hogan, told local media that the Republican governor would consider the legislation but “continues to call on the General Assembly to take action to hold those who use guns to commit violent crimes accountable.”
Stay tuned for updates.
And the “Socialist Republic” of Maryland has the gall to call themselves the Free State. What a joke!
Ex Post Facto law is a law that retroactively changes the establish laws from the past action(s).
Therefore this bill “SB 367” IS ILLEGAL for BACKDATING. It is April 1, 2022! All of the Home made guns MUST be GRANDFATHERED and accepted that were made BEFORE this law “passes”!
All of this “law making” is nothing but KABUKI-theater to HIDE the CONTROL the DemoKKKrat and “handlers” want over the FREEDOMS and RIGHTS which God gave to EACH PERSON!!
The USEFUL IDIOT DemoKKKrat “b. frosh” = guns allowed for me and NONE FOR THEE!!!!
I live in Montana and we have permittless carry. We do not have “Constitutional” carry because our State Constitution does not like “concealed”. We have a high rate of firearm ownership (90%+) and the majority of the population are carrying a firearm at any given time. With that many Armed Citizens, you would think there would be “blood in the streets” if you vote democrat. Not true. I live this every day, and nothing happens. As you all know, an armed society is a polite society. Long Live the Republic.