Signed by Governor Wes Moore

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that defines requirements around safe storage of firearms and increases penalties for violators.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual from storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where they know an unsupervised child has access and specifies violators will be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $1,000 fine (Sec. 1).

• Defines “child” for the purposes of this bill as an individual under the age of 16 (Sec. 1).

• Defines “firearm” as a handgun, rifle, shotgun, short-barreled rifle, or short-barreled shotgun, but exempts antique firearms (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall supercede any restriction that a local jurisdiction in the state imposes (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any of the following individuals from owning or possessing a regulated firearm, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Any individual who has been convicted of a disqualifying crime or crime of violence and been imprisoned for more than 2 years;

• A fugitive from justice;

• A habitual drunkard;

• Any individual addicted to a controlled substance or is a habitual user;

• Suffers from a mental disorder or has a violent history against themselves or towards others; or

• Has been found incompetent to stand trial

• Prohibits any of the following individuals from owning or possessing a regulated firearm, including (Sec. 1):

• Specifies that the provisons of this bill shall take effect October 1, 2023 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that defines requirements around safe storage of firearms and increases penalties for violators.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual from storing or leaving a loaded firearm in a location where they know an unsupervised child has access and specifies violators will be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $1,000 fine (Sec. 1).

• Defines “child” for the purposes of this bill as an individual under the age of 16 (Sec. 1).

• Defines “firearm” as a handgun, rifle, shotgun, short-barreled rifle, or short-barreled shotgun, but exempts antique firearms (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall supercede any restriction that a local jurisdiction in the state imposes (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any of the following individuals from owning or possessing a regulated firearm, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Any individual who has been convicted of a disqualifying crime or crime of violence and been imprisoned for more than 2 years;

• A fugitive from justice;

• A habitual drunkard;

• Any individual addicted to a controlled substance or is a habitual user;

• Suffers from a mental disorder or has a violent history against themselves or towards others; or

• Has been found incompetent to stand trial

• Prohibits any of the following individuals from owning or possessing a regulated firearm, including (Sec. 1):

• Specifies that the provisons of this bill shall take effect October 1, 2023 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text