Maryland: New legal gun lock options
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Integrated Locks Update
The Maryland Handgun Roster Board is charged with the responsibility of ascertaining which handguns and/or devices comply with Maryland's Integrated Mechanical Safety Device law (See, e.g., Attorney General's Opinion, dated July 19, 2002, at: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opinions/2002/02-010.pdf ). I don't know, but I assume, that the Handgun Roster Board was previously populated partially or entirely by Glendening cronies during the last administration. However, It would appear that things are easing up. Since January 1, 2003, handguns must be sold with an "integrated mechanical safety device" . The practical effect of this requirement was that many handguns suddenly became unavailable in Maryland unless they had a key lock device installed, such as used by Smith and Wesson, Springfield Armory and Taurus, or if the handgun had a device installed on the trigger guard to block the rearward travel of the trigger when the device is activated. In a rather bitter twist of fate, Marylanders could not buy Beretta handguns, even though Beretta's U.S. arm is headquartered in Maryland. In any event, the general consensus, apparently based upon the views of Maryland's rabidly anti-gun Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., was that the usual safeties found on a 1911 pattern pistol were not sufficient, nor was a cable lock, etc. However, as May 1, 2004, things have apparently taken a turn for the better. The new approved device roster posted at the State Police Web site, at: http://www.mdsp.maryland.gov/mdsp/downloads/Safety_devices.pdf reflects approval of a device from Omega Safety Systems. A press release from that company follows:
*********************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: press information
Contact: Rachel Gardner
[email protected]
Marketing Department
OMEGA SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC., APRIL 28, 2004
Today, by a vote of 7-0, the Maryland Handgun Roster Board approved the Omega Internal Gunlock System as an Integrated Mechanical Safety Devise (IMSD). The Board approval is immediate and applies to all factory and/or aftermarket installations.
Prior to this approval, semi-automatic handguns could not be sold in Maryland unless they were equipped with an integrated lock mechanism that was built into the gun. The IMSD law that went into effect January 1, 2003 specifically left it up to the state’s Handgun Roster Board to interpret the law. The Board’s interpretation of that legislation then sets the policy for the state police enforcement.
With this new Handgun Roster Board approval, handguns that do not have an integrated locking mechanism built into the gun can now be legally sold in Maryland by having an Omega Internal Gunlock installed prior to the gun transfer.
According to the Maryland Firearms Dealers Association, Inc. there were more than fifteen handgun manufacturers who were previously not able to sell in Maryland. The Omega Internal Gunlock requires no manufacturing modifications to the firearm to achieve compliance. When the consumer removes the gunlock to use their gun, there are no mechanical gunlock parts left in the gun.
All gun manufacturers will again be able to sell semi-automatic handguns in Maryland. The process is simple: you need to supply a fired case in the "specified envelope" along with an Omega Internal Gunlock, which will then be installed by a licensed Maryland firearms retailer prior to sale and delivery of the gun to the customer.
The Handgun Roster Board approval can be verified with a phone call to Alyson Turner, the Board’s administrator at: 410-653-4451. The Omega Gunlock line is also California AB-106 compliant, having passed all U.S. Department of Justice testing. Information on the Omega Gunlock System can be obtained at:
Mail
.O. Box 1517
Idyllwild, CA 92260
Web Site:www.omegagunlock.com
Phone:909-659-7778
Toll Free:866-850-9193
Fax:909-659-8881
************************************************
The Good News: The best feature of this device is that if you are not interested in using it, you can toss it aside or toss it away when you get home and you handgun will be back to normal. Put another way, your 1911A1 will be as pristine as God and his apostle of freedom, John Browning, intended it to be (but I digress!). Anyway, I understand that the device costs less than $20.00. The Bad News: Apparently at the moment there is no equivalent for revolvers, so you cowboy action shooters are apparently S.O.L. until further notice. However, I gather that a version for revolvers is in the works. Also, the integrated lock law as written is not a model of clarity. Unfortunately, and for technical reasons beyond the scope of this brief email, I believe that the approved device list is subject to narrower interpretations by the powers that be in future, less gun-friendly administrations. Nevertheless, and in the meantime, buy new guns early and often!
The Maryland Handgun Roster Board is charged with the responsibility of ascertaining which handguns and/or devices comply with Maryland's Integrated Mechanical Safety Device law (See, e.g., Attorney General's Opinion, dated July 19, 2002, at: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opinions/2002/02-010.pdf ). I don't know, but I assume, that the Handgun Roster Board was previously populated partially or entirely by Glendening cronies during the last administration. However, It would appear that things are easing up. Since January 1, 2003, handguns must be sold with an "integrated mechanical safety device" . The practical effect of this requirement was that many handguns suddenly became unavailable in Maryland unless they had a key lock device installed, such as used by Smith and Wesson, Springfield Armory and Taurus, or if the handgun had a device installed on the trigger guard to block the rearward travel of the trigger when the device is activated. In a rather bitter twist of fate, Marylanders could not buy Beretta handguns, even though Beretta's U.S. arm is headquartered in Maryland. In any event, the general consensus, apparently based upon the views of Maryland's rabidly anti-gun Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., was that the usual safeties found on a 1911 pattern pistol were not sufficient, nor was a cable lock, etc. However, as May 1, 2004, things have apparently taken a turn for the better. The new approved device roster posted at the State Police Web site, at: http://www.mdsp.maryland.gov/mdsp/downloads/Safety_devices.pdf reflects approval of a device from Omega Safety Systems. A press release from that company follows:
*********************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: press information
Contact: Rachel Gardner
[email protected]
Marketing Department
OMEGA SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC., APRIL 28, 2004
Today, by a vote of 7-0, the Maryland Handgun Roster Board approved the Omega Internal Gunlock System as an Integrated Mechanical Safety Devise (IMSD). The Board approval is immediate and applies to all factory and/or aftermarket installations.
Prior to this approval, semi-automatic handguns could not be sold in Maryland unless they were equipped with an integrated lock mechanism that was built into the gun. The IMSD law that went into effect January 1, 2003 specifically left it up to the state’s Handgun Roster Board to interpret the law. The Board’s interpretation of that legislation then sets the policy for the state police enforcement.
With this new Handgun Roster Board approval, handguns that do not have an integrated locking mechanism built into the gun can now be legally sold in Maryland by having an Omega Internal Gunlock installed prior to the gun transfer.
According to the Maryland Firearms Dealers Association, Inc. there were more than fifteen handgun manufacturers who were previously not able to sell in Maryland. The Omega Internal Gunlock requires no manufacturing modifications to the firearm to achieve compliance. When the consumer removes the gunlock to use their gun, there are no mechanical gunlock parts left in the gun.
All gun manufacturers will again be able to sell semi-automatic handguns in Maryland. The process is simple: you need to supply a fired case in the "specified envelope" along with an Omega Internal Gunlock, which will then be installed by a licensed Maryland firearms retailer prior to sale and delivery of the gun to the customer.
The Handgun Roster Board approval can be verified with a phone call to Alyson Turner, the Board’s administrator at: 410-653-4451. The Omega Gunlock line is also California AB-106 compliant, having passed all U.S. Department of Justice testing. Information on the Omega Gunlock System can be obtained at:
.O. Box 1517Idyllwild, CA 92260
Web Site:www.omegagunlock.com
Phone:909-659-7778
Toll Free:866-850-9193
Fax:909-659-8881
************************************************
The Good News: The best feature of this device is that if you are not interested in using it, you can toss it aside or toss it away when you get home and you handgun will be back to normal. Put another way, your 1911A1 will be as pristine as God and his apostle of freedom, John Browning, intended it to be (but I digress!). Anyway, I understand that the device costs less than $20.00. The Bad News: Apparently at the moment there is no equivalent for revolvers, so you cowboy action shooters are apparently S.O.L. until further notice. However, I gather that a version for revolvers is in the works. Also, the integrated lock law as written is not a model of clarity. Unfortunately, and for technical reasons beyond the scope of this brief email, I believe that the approved device list is subject to narrower interpretations by the powers that be in future, less gun-friendly administrations. Nevertheless, and in the meantime, buy new guns early and often!
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Where does it say all that in the Second Amendment?
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