From the Dept. of "you gotta be kiddin me"

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I'm visiting my Brother in MD this week, and thought I better review their laws, since I'm taking some hardware with me for a range trip.

In Title 4 section 202, I found the following, and could hardly believe it's actually in print. It wasn't too bad until I got to number 5:
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The General Assembly finds that:

(1) the number of violent crimes committed in the State has increased alarmingly in recent years;

(2) a high percentage of violent crimes committed in the State involves the use of handguns;

(3) the result is a substantial increase in the number of deaths and injuries largely traceable to the carrying of handguns in public places by criminals;

(4) current law has not been effective in curbing the more frequent use of handguns in committing crime; and

(5) additional regulations on the wearing, carrying, and transporting of handguns are necessary to preserve the peace and tranquility of the State and to protect the rights and liberties of the public.
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<Sigh...> Words fail me...
 
I hate to break it to them, but "criminals" aren't going to follow these laws, just because they made a nice list of them.............
 
More of the same....

We chose to dismiss reality and adhere to our flawed logic. Therefore, since our flawed laws haven’t worked, we'll enact more of the same. :rolleyes:
 
I'm very curious what lawmakers actually say when you present them with the fact that criminals don't follow the law. If they did follow the law they wouldn't be criminals and you wouldn't have to worry about them.
 
Additional regulations...........to protect rights and liberties...... Not sure if that means there are more laws to come? More job security for law makers? Makes you wonder, what new laws? Are these new laws made up on the fly by LEO's? I just dont see the point in stating that we need additional laws written into the law. Why not just write the new laws in?? Or is this a kinda blank check to be used in hassling gun owners?

Maybe the answere is in #4? The current laws seem to be inafective. I skimmed through it a lil too quickly the first time. Still a lil confused about why they put that in there? To in form the public that current laws dont seem to be working? I worry about some rooky LEO taking that and twisting it to justify some cruelty to citizens.

Although I dont live in MD, I feel your pain. Its too grey of a law. Maybe your bro should write his senator?
 
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This has got me thinking about the broader spectrum of gun control folly. Eliminating the citizenrys right to carry a gun would kinda make handguns obselete. Thats the whole point of a handgun. You give up accuracy, range and power for a weopon system you can carry with you wherever you go with ralative comfort. So if you cant carry a gun on your person why get a handgun? Id rather just get something with superior firepower. But a handgun is a weopon in every sense of the word, its a weopon. Weopons can be used for evil. But the can just as easily be used to defend against evil. In and of themselves they are neutral.

So the way I see guns is you have side A: guns are used to commit evil acts. And side B: guns are used in defense of said evil. So the law makers conundrum is how to how to limit side A, without hindering side B? That should drop violent crime like yesterdays news. And thats a very tough question. I dont have any answeres beyond what laws that are already in place like the NIC's system, etc... I do know what some laws out there arent helpful and may even be harmful in some cases, These are the laws that limit side B only. Like the example above. Maybre one area we could improve is tougher penalties for crimes commited with a gun? Say doubling the penalties of any crime if a gun was used. For example someone commits a rape, normal sentence is five years prison. Oh and a gun was used in the commision of this crime that makes the sentence 10 years. Dooing things like this I believe will make ppl think twice about using guns for ill. And If on the other side of the coin we have shall issue CCW, that would be even more hinderence to violent crime.
 
Say doubling the penalties of any crime if a gun was used. For example someone commits a rape, normal sentence is five years prison. Oh and a gun was used in the commision of this crime that makes the sentence 10 years.
Click to expand...

A number of states already do this. Virginia is one, and in Florida the system is called 10-20-Life:

* Mandates a minimum 10 year prison term for certain felonies, or attempted felonies in which the offender possesses a firearm or destructive device

* Mandates a minimum 20 year prison term when the firearm is discharged

* Mandates a minimum 25 years to LIFE if someone is injured or killed

* Mandates a minimum 3 year prison term for possession of a firearm by a felon

* Mandates that the minimum prison term is to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed
Click to expand...
 
Maryland Law

Maryland law is indeed fascinating when it comes to dealing with firearms.

Yes, we have bad guys with guns, who ignore laws, so we make more laws. But on a bright side, our legislative efforts this year got a little further than in the past. We are ever hopeful.
 
The "legal minds" that we as gun owners have to deal with don't seem to realize that we have a gun crime problem simply because the perpertrators are not prosecuted.
Example:
In nearby Philadelphia, at last count, there were on the docket 6500 UN-PROSECUTED gun crimes.
In May 2008, a Policeman was gunned down by three creeps who had between them eighteen prior weapons arrests for which they were NEVER charged.
 
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