New Anne Arundel County Firearms Bills

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  • duckduckgoose

    Active Member
    Sep 7, 2016
    138
    Annapolis, MD
    I can't get past the paywall, but here's a link to the Gazette's article on two new bills that passed in Anne Arundel County:

    https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/ac-cn-county-council-gun-safety-laws-20220104-qmo55ggaaveb5lcimgnsbs5nxq-story.html

    I found a summary of the bills on the County Council website here:

    https://www.aacounty.org/departments/auditor/letters/Auditor-20220103.pdf

    And here's the two new bill summaries:

    Bill 108-21:
    Public Safety – Distribution of Literature to Purchasers of Guns or Ammunition
    Summary of Legislation
    This bill requires the Anne Arundel County Department of Health (Health Department) to prepare and distribute certain literature to establishments that sell guns or ammunition, adds certain display and distribution requirements for sellers, authorizes enforcement by the Health Department, and makes a violation a Class C civil offense.
    Review of Fiscal Impact
    The Health Department currently estimates that $6,000 will be needed for additional literature creation and printing costs. They are currently working to determine estimated employee costs associated with managing enforcement of this bill.

    Bill 109-21:
    Public Safety – Security Measures for the Sale of Firearms
    Summary of Legislation
    This bill prohibits a gun dealer or a person promoting or sponsoring a gun show from conducting business without the Police Department’s approval of security measures, specifies the required security measures, requires gun dealers who transport firearms to have a certain inventory list in their possession, sets forth enforcement measures, and makes a violation a Class C civil offense.
    Review of Fiscal Impact
    The Police Department has not determined a fiscal impact but does not expect a large commitment of time due to this legislation. Based on their review, there are currently 21 stores that sell guns in the County and they are unaware of any guns shows that currently occur in the County.
     

    Michael S

    Active Member
    Nov 6, 2012
    416
    Towson
    I think the General Assemble has something in the works with the same wording. Just the start of making owning a gun a Heath department issue.
     

    eruby

    Confederate Jew
    MDS Supporter
    whoever Jessica Haire is.

    Civil engineer, and lawyer.

    jessica-haire_2_pyramid.jpg



    https://www.aacounty.org/departments/county-council/councilmembers/district-7/
     

    adit

    ReMember
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 20, 2013
    19,512
    DE
    These are now law, not bills.

    WTF happened to preemption?

    https://www.capitalgazette.com/poli...0220104-qmo55ggaaveb5lcimgnsbs5nxq-story.html

    Here is the article from the Crapital:
    Two bills focused on reducing gun-related crimes and suicides in the county were passed into law Monday night by the Anne Arundel County Council.

    One of the laws, sponsored by council member Lisa Brannigan Rodvien, D-Annapolis, requires gun sellers to offer pamphlets to customers at the point of sale of a firearm detailing resources like the suicide hotline phone number, gun safety tips and information on gun locks. Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, who worked closely with Rodvien on the bill, estimates it would cost the county about $6,000 to print and distribute the materials.

    The bill passed with unanimous support.

    “Looking at the issue of gun violence and gun suicides, which are actually even more prevalent than gun homicides, I have been racking my brain to think what can we do on the local level to address this issue,” Rodvien said. “One of the things I realized looking into this issue was the likelihood of death by firearm suicide increases enormously in the one-month period following the purchase of a firearm. This made me think this is an opportunity to make sure that a person in that position, maybe won’t be in that position, but might be in that position who’s buying a weapon for the purpose of committing suicide at least has access to the resources to come to a different outcome.”

    Representatives from Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman’s administration were fully on board with the bill.

    “It’s a pretty basic requirement,” said Peter Baron, director of government relations for the Office of the County Executive. “The administration strongly supports this bill.”

    Kalyanaraman added that the literature would likely reach the buyer at the time they are most likely to consider suicide.

    “Most people who do survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die in a future suicide. It’s really important to provide intervention,” he said.

    However, most residents who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting were strongly opposed.

    “This just seems to be an added hurdle to what is already one of the most difficult processes in the country,” said Kecia Pettey, a new gun owner in Annapolis.

    Others said they viewed the bill as government overreach.

    “What does the health department know about gun safety and gun training? I can’t imagine there is anyone on staff that is trained on guns at all,” said Tom Quick, who owns Cindy’s Hot Shots shooting range and gun store in Glen Burnie with his family. “I’ve racked my brain to come up with an example of any law that requires a retailer to distribute government-prepared literature with any purchase of anything. I can’t come up with one. Using this logic, a law should be proposed that requires gas stations to distribute brochures about the problems of drinking and driving to all who purchase gas. While we’re at it, we should use the same brochure and add it to everyone’s bag when they purchase alcohol at the liquor store.”

    Council member Sarah Lacey, D-Jessup, responded that there are products the government requires literature be attached to.

    “The government does require extensive literature to be provided to a consumer or a purchaser in notable circumstances, such as every time I buy a pack of birth control pills I receive the same very large pamphlet,” Lacey said. “I have to note that the same amount of paperwork does not come in any box of condoms.”

    Council member Allison Pickard, D-Glen Burnie, added that while there may not be many examples of similar pamphlets to the ones proposed in the bill, there are warnings on potentially harmful consumer goods.

    “Alcohol sales and cigarette and tobacco sales — all of those products have mandated labeling on them about consumption in moderation and causing cancer and things like that,” Pickard said.

    But one speaker offered zealous testimony in support of the bill: Madison Medley, chair of the Anne Arundel County Youth Advisory Council’s Legislative Committee.

    “This increased safety surrounding guns will allow for people to live with less fear surrounding them. This is especially true for our youth. As we sit huddled in corners of our classrooms during active shooter drills, we hope that we will never have to use the training that we receive,” Medley said. “With this bill, we can be assured that the owners of guns know the dangers and risks that the youth are forced to become acquainted with at a young age.”

    Lacey and council member Nathan Volke, R-Pasadena, voiced their support and shared how suicide had affected their families and how this kind of law could have changed things.

    “My great-great-grandfather died of suicide by firearm in very dramatic family circumstances which I would be too horrified to actually tell you here,” Lacey said. “The people who are affected affect many generations after them. He did this at a time when there were no hotlines to call if you felt suicidal. There was no anonymous help available, and I cannot help but wonder if the simple action of offering a piece of paper with some information or resources and who you could call could have saved his life.”

    “Similar to councilwoman Lacey’s family that has been racked by suicide, mine has too,” Volke said.

    The second bill of the night related to firearms, which was modeled after a similar bill in Baltimore County known as the SAFE Act, requires gun store owners to fulfill certain security measures like having the building monitored at all times by video surveillance, installing exterior bollards and concrete barriers to prevent intruders from driving into the building and setting up interior or exterior security gates or screens. It also requires all guns be secured when the business is closed.

    The bill passed along party lines, with Volke, Jessica Haire, R-Edgewater, and Amanda Fiedler, R-Arnold, voting against it.

    The bill’s sponsor, Andrew Pruski, D-Gambrills, said the impetus behind the bill was a series of smash-and-grab-style burglaries at gun stores throughout the state over the past few months, such as in Harford County last month and Charles County last March.

    Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis was also victim to two smash-and-grab crimes recently.

    “This bill was actually brought forward by an Anne Arundel County police officer over the concerns of illegal guns,” Pruski said. “When guns are stolen and used in crime, they’re hard to track.”

    The county administration supported the bill as well and said it will do its best to work with the 21 stores that sells guns in the county.

    “We will do everything we can to make sure this is an education for the stores and give stores the guidance that they need to get it in place and in compliance,” Baron said.
     

    Scope3334

    Active Member
    Industry Partner
    Mar 12, 2016
    243
    The people who voted in favor of this are;

    District 1 - Sarah Lacey
    District 2 - Allison Pickard
    District 4 - Andrew Pruski
    District 6 - Lisa Rodvein

    If you would like to voice your objection to this and how it will impact hard working business owners call 410-222-1401.
     

    esqappellate

    President, MSI
    Feb 12, 2012
    7,407
    If any of the owners of these 21 stores are interested in fighting these bills, I would be interested in talking to them.
     

    Scope3334

    Active Member
    Industry Partner
    Mar 12, 2016
    243
    Isn't there another bill still waiting to be voted on or was this it?
     
    Nov 10, 2020
    17
    “This bill was actually brought forward by an Anne Arundel County police officer over the concerns of illegal guns,” Pruski said. “When guns are stolen and used in crime, they’re hard to track."


    Weird, I thought the reason for so many illegal guns was the gun show loophole and straw purchases, thats why we had to have background checks on all gun sales.?? Now all the sudden stolen guns are the culprit????
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    This bill was actually brought forward by an Anne Arundel County police officer over the concerns of illegal guns,” Pruski said. “When guns are stolen and used in crime, they’re hard to track."


    Weird, I thought the reason for so many illegal guns was the gun show loophole and straw purchases, thats why we had to have background checks on all gun sales.?? Now all the sudden stolen guns are the culprit????


    Must be "woke" or bucking for promotion. :mad54:
     

    zoostation

    , ,
    Moderator
    Jan 28, 2007
    22,857
    Abingdon
    I would think the pre-emption statute nullifies these bills to a large extent as 4-209(b) specifically includes pre-emption regarding the sale of both ammunition and firearms. Bear in mind there are still exceptions to pre-emption in the statute (100 yards proximity to schools, churches, etc). I doubt Pittman cares though. It costs him nothing for the taxpayers of AA County to bear the costs of litigation for whatever latest looney idea he wants headlines for.
     

    esqappellate

    President, MSI
    Feb 12, 2012
    7,407
    I would think the pre-emption statute nullifies these bills to a large extent as 4-209(b) specifically includes pre-emption regarding the sale of both ammunition and firearms. Bear in mind there are still exceptions to pre-emption in the statute (100 yards proximity to schools, churches, etc). I doubt Pittman cares though. It costs him nothing for the taxpayers of AA County to bear the costs of litigation for whatever latest looney idea he wants headlines for.

    Here are the bills. The County might care if they get hit with a big award for Section 1988 fees.
     

    Attachments

    • Bill 109-21 Security for gun stores.pdf
      837.7 KB · Views: 68
    • Bill 108-21 Pamphlet bill.pdf
      801.9 KB · Views: 56

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