2020 Gun Bill Hearing Schedules

UPDATED 28JAN2020

It's official, the Maryland General Assembly is coordinating the screwing of firearms owners. Multiple hearings scheduled intentionally on the same subject matter at the same time on the same day in different committees. They are intentionally trying to dilute the voices of the opposition, to give themselves the optics and message that the firearms community does not care because they are not there in significant numbers.


The Opposition is trying every trick under the sun to prevent our voices from being heard. You need to contact your legislators and tell them how you feel on these bills. If you need to know who your State Senator and Delegates are, enter your home address at http://mdelect.net.


I will update this OP as bills are scheduled for hearings. We need people to be present and testify!

BILL HEARINGS SCHEDULED

29JAN2020
HB0073 / Grammer / Firearms - Right to Purchase, Possess, and Carry - Use of Medical Cannabis
House Judiciary Committee / 1300
This bill seeks to allow users of medical cannibis to retain their firearms rights. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that Maryland can fix legislatively due to federal drug schedule issues.
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (Federal Law Conflicts)

SB0156 / Cassilly / Handgun Qualification License - Training Requirement - Exemption
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill seeks to add additional, targeted, law-enforcement personnel to the exemptions for training for the HQL
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (MSRPA does not endorse carve-outs - all citizens should be treated equally under the law)

SB0179 / Hough / Firearms - Right to Purchase, Possess, and Carry - Use of Medical Cannabis
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill seeks to allow users of medical cannibis to retain their firearms rights. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that Maryland can fix legislatively due to federal drug schedule issues.
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (Federal Law Conflicts)

30JAN2020
SB0198 / Hough / Public Safety - Permit to Carry, Wear, or Transport a Handgun - Qualifications
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
The perennial attempt at clarifying Good & Substantial in the Wear & Carry Statutes
MSRPA POSITION: FAVORABLE

04FEB2020
HB0356 / The Speaker (By Request - Administration) / Crimes - Firearms - Penalties and Procedures (Violent Firearms Offender Act of 2020)
House Judiciary Committee / 1300
This is the Governor's bill that modifies multiple crime-related statutes
MSRPA POSITION: FAVORABLE

05FEB2020
HB0265 / Reilly / Handgun Qualification License - Training Requirement - Exemption
House Judiciary Committee / 1400
This bill seeks to add additional, targeted, law-enforcement personnel to the exemptions for training for the HQL
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (MSRPA does not endorse carve-outs - all citizens should be treated equally under the law)

HB0302 / Love / Criminal Law - Deadly Weapons on School Property - Nonpublic Schools (No Weapons on Nonpublic School Property Act)
House Judiciary Committee / 1400
This bill seeks to place restrictions on the private property rights of non-public schools.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

SB0208 / Lee / Public Safety - Rifles and Shotguns - Secondary Transactions
Senate Judicial Proceedings / 1300
Slightly modified repeat of last year's failed attempt at a Long Gun bill. Adds loans as transfers requiring a background check. Lifetime prohibition on firearms ownership/possession in the penalties.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

06FEB2020
SB0273 / The President (By Request - Administration) / Crimes - Firearms - Penalties and Procedures (Violent Firearms Offender Act of 2020)
Senate Judicial Proceedings / 1300
This is the Governor's bill that modifies multiple crime-related statutes
MSRPA POSITION: FAVORABLE

11FEB2020
SB0290 / Edwards / Criminal Procedure - Forfeiture of Firearms - Sale to Dealer
Senate Judicial Proceedings / 1300
This bill allows a law enforcement agency to see forfeited firearms to an FFL.
MSRPA POSITION: FAVORABLE

12FEB2020
HB0591 / Clippinger / Public Safety - Lost or Stolen Regulated Firearm - Reporting
House Judiciary / 1300
This bill adds jail time and fines to the existing statute.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

13FEB2020
SB0422 / Young / Firearms - Permit to Carry, Wear, or Transport - Required Courses
Senate Judicial Proceedings / 1300
This bill adds onerous ANNUAL training requirements to the Wear & Carry Statutes
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

SB0468 / West / Criminal Procedure - Appeals - Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
Senate Judicial Proceedings / 1300
This bill allows the State's Attorney to appeal a decision to block evidence in a criminal trial.
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION

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BILLS MOVING FORWARD IN THE PROCESS

29JAN2020
HB0004 / Atterbeary / Public Safety - Rifles and Shotguns - Secondary Transactions
Full House / Special Order for Amendments
Slightly modified repeat of last year's failed attempt at a Long Gun bill. Adds loans as transfers requiring a background check. Lifetime prohibition on firearms ownership/possession in the penalties.
UPDATE - 28JAN2020 - This bill received very minor and insignificant amendments in the committee and is on 2nd Reader in the House of Delegates. This is the time when ANY Delegate may present amendments for consideration. CONTACT YOUR DELEGATES WITH YOUR OPINIONS - http://mdelect.net if you do not know their contact information.
NOTE - Oral Testimony was limited to 90 seconds on HB0004
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

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BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE WITH NO CURRENT MOVEMENT

14JAN2020
SB0035 / Hough / Criminal Law - Crime of Violence - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1500
This bill adds possession with the intent to distribute to the Crime of Violence list.
MSRPA POSITION: FAVORABLE

15JAN2020
SB0039 / Waldstreicher / Public Safety - Regulated Firearm - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill adds two firearms to the banned list.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

22JAN2020
SB0043 / Simonaire / Licensing - Fingerprint Requirements
Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs / 1300
Removes the requirements for fingerprints across multiple licensing regimens (not just firearms) if an applicant has previously been fingerprinted and checked through CJIS for any other license.
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (Technical issues at the federal level)

HB0035 / Queen / Public Safety - Firearms Telematics Study
House Judiciary / 1400
Requires the MSP to perform a study and provide recommendations for tracking firearm locations.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

HB0047 / Parrott / Public Safety - Handgun Qualification License - Training Exemption
House Judiciary / 1400
Adds exemptions for Delaware/Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia/Washington DC police officers from HQL training requirements.
MSRPA POSITION: NO POSITION (MSRPA does not endorse carve-outs - all citizens should be treated equally under the law)

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BILLS WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR


SB0055 / Young / Income Tax Checkoff - Maryland Assault Weapons Buyback Fund
Senate Budget & Taxation Committee / 1300
This bill adds a "feel good" budget item and would allow citizens to donate to the fund through their tax forms.
MSRPA POSITION: OPPOSED

MJD438 said:

Folks, we are seeing the first couple of hearings scheduled even though the session does not open until noon on 08JAN2020 (this OP written at 1450 on 07JAN2020 - will be updated periodically).

I will update this OP as bills are scheduled for hearings. We need people to be present and testify!

14JAN2020
SB0035 / Hough / Criminal Law - Crime of Violence - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill adds possession with the intent to distribute to the Crime of Violence list.

15JAN2020
SB0039 / Waldstreicher / Public Safety - Regulated Firearm - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill adds two firearms to the banned list.

15JAN2020
SB0055 / Young / Income Tax Checkoff - Maryland Assault Weapons Buyback Fund
Senate Budget & Taxation Committee / 1300
This bill adds a "feel good" budget item and would allow citizens to donate to the fund through their tax forms.

Click to expand...

Thanks MJD. I appreciate the long hours that you put in in support if the 2A.

Did Young ask the notary if they want those "assault rifles" LOL!

MJD438 said:

14JAN2020
SB0035 / Hough / Criminal Law - Crime of Violence - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill adds possession with the intent to distribute to the Crime of Violence list.

Click to expand...

So much snark needed here, so little time.

MJD438 said:

15JAN2020
SB0039 / Waldstreicher / Public Safety - Regulated Firearm - Definition
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee / 1300
This bill adds two firearms to the banned list.

Click to expand...

Anderson AM-15 223 as I see the description is already banned (not an HBAR). But kiss 300 BLK rifles goodbye.

This one seems more like a toilet bill: a container used to dump a bunch of shit later.

Is there any reported murders with 300 BLK?

I will see you on the 15th. Thanks MJD438 for the information.

Not_an_outlaw said:

Is there any reported murders with 300 BLK?

Click to expand...

Are you trying to apply logic to Maryland bills?

That will get you nowhere, my friend.

For those of you on the Book of Faces - I have also posted the information about January 15. Please feel free to share that post - https://www.facebook.com/MDSRPA/posts/1290873627783372.


They want us asleep and not paying attention. They want to slap these through with limited opposition. They do not want to hear your voices.


We saw what happened in VA...

danb said:

So much snark needed here, so little time.




Anderson AM-15 223 as I see the description is already banned (not an HBAR). But kiss 300 BLK rifles goodbye.

This one seems more like a toilet bill: a container used to dump a bunch of shit later.

Click to expand...

Can someone explain this one to me please? Is this bill trying to effectively ban all 300blk firearms?

rockstarr said:

Can someone explain this one to me please? Is this bill trying to effectively ban all 300blk firearms?

Click to expand...

IANAL


The Ban List works in two ways:

1. Bans firearms by specific manufacturer/model
2. Bans firearms that are "copycats" of a specifically banned firearm

They rescheduled Judicial Proceedings committee bill hearings on 1/14 to 3pm - the hearing for SB0035.

Thanks for this great list. I shared earlier on the book of faces, to include outside of gun only groups.

Thanks for posting, some of these need attention.

I still don’t know how they get away with banning certain firearms, especially the ones in common use like the ak-47.

Simple insertion of the Anderson .300 AM-15 rifle (and copycats) on the "regulated" rifle list means that builds on post Sept 30, 2013 lowers would potentially be illegal with passage of the bill (when the bill goes into effect on Oct 1, 2020).

Since 3 of the bills are being heard at the same time by 3 different committees on the same day, (1:00 PM on January 15) it sounds like written testimony is paramount in this fight. Submit your written testimony for all 3 bills. Below are links to the Committee guidelines which may have changed from previous years. I am going to provide written testimony and then attend the hearing that I am most passionate about for oral arguments. Read the rules...

SB039 Committee Guidelines "Regulated Firearm - Definition"
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-jpr-faqs.pdf

SB055 Committee Guidelines "Income Tax Checkoff - Maryland Assault Weapons Buyback Fund"
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-bat-faqs.pdf

HB0004 Committee Guidelines "Rifles and Shotguns - Secondary Transactions"
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-jud-faqs.pdf

fidelity said:

Simple insertion of the Anderson .300 AM-15 rifle (and copycats) on the "regulated" rifle list means that builds on post Sept 30, 2013 lowers would potentially be illegal with passage of the bill (when the bill goes into effect on Oct 1, 2020).

Click to expand...

The bill also inserts the AM-15 in .223. Which is, of course, already banned as a copy of the Colt AR15. Dumb

esqappellate said:

The bill also inserts the AM-15 in .223. Which is, of course, already banned as a copy of the Colt AR15. Dumb

Click to expand...

I believe it’s the legislative equivalent to beating a dead horse.

That said, perhaps the intent is to try to ban any rifle in .223 or .300 built on an Anderson AM-15 lower? But the language doesn’t seem to be that as the Anderson AM-15 in .223 is a very specific rifle since Colt Sporter HBARs are exempt (as are copies).

Maybe my interpretation of what it would do is extra double ban non-HBAR AR-15s in .223 as well as ban AR-15s in .300 is wrong. But that seems to be what would happen.

lazarus said:

I believe it’s the legislative equivalent to beating a dead horse.

That said, perhaps the intent is to try to ban any rifle in .223 or .300 built on an Anderson AM-15 lower? But the language doesn’t seem to be that as the Anderson AM-15 in .223 is a very specific rifle since Colt Sporter HBARs are exempt (as are copies).

Maybe my interpretation of what it would do is extra double ban non-HBAR AR-15s in .223 as well as ban AR-15s in .300 is wrong. But that seems to be what would happen.

Click to expand...

The bill reflects a lot of ignorance. The reason for the bill is that Anderson .223 pistol was used in the Dayton mass shooting this last summer. The receiver stated that it was a .233/.300blk receiver. But the actual gun was not a rifle, it was a pistol and it was chambered for the .223 round. Frankly from the photos it looks like a SBR (unregistered under the NFA of 1934 and thus illegal under federal law)

esqappellate said:

The bill reflects a lot of ignorance. The reason for the bill is that Anderson .223 pistol was used in the Dayton mass shooting this last summer. The receiver stated that it was a .233/.300blk receiver. But the actual gun was not a rifle, it was a pistol and it was chambered for the .223 round. Frankly from the photos it looks like a SBR (unregistered under the NFA of 1934 and thus illegal under federal law)

Click to expand...

Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for enlightening me to how their ignorance is working in this case.

lazarus said:

Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for enlightening me to how their ignorance is working in this case.

Click to expand...

The irony is that the Anderson .223 pistol is not on the Handgun Roster and thus is unavailable for sale in Maryland. Frosh and his folks (Frosh is the real sponsor here) simply did not do their homework at all. Sloppy and ignorant.