Maryland HB 9 - CCW Reciprocity

[andimorony]

Hello Everyone!

We’re so happy you were all happy you were all able to contribute your ideas and opinions last year on House Bill 52 and thank all those who helped and submitted testimony. We would love to have your help again this year!

Maryland’s Delegate Smigiel (R-36th District-Upper Shore) has introduced a firearm and concealed carry reciprocity bill once again this year. House Bill 9 validate firearm and concealed carry permits from Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia within the state of Maryland.

This same bill narrowly lost a vote of 11-10 last year in committee and with your help we believe this is the year HB 9 could pass! There are many fresh new faces on the Judiciary committee and we’re very optimistic about this bill ability to pass. This is the year of Constitutional rights and one of those rights is the Second Amendment right to bear arms. We would love to hear from all of you, especially those who travel to, do business in, or live in Maryland.

The first hearing for HB 9 is on January 25th at 1 PM. If you are able to testify in person, please let me know as soon as possible. But, if you can't be there in person (most effective), please think about sending in your written testimony.

Written testimony can be as long as you see fit. However, if you are testifying in person, your testimony should be much more concise.

If you will send your written testimony to michael.smigiel@house.state.md.us we will submit the appropriate number of copies to the committee for you.

We need your voices to get this out of committee (we were only two votes shy last year!)

Please feel free to call the office or email Delegate Smigiel with any concerns or questions you might have.

Call the Annapolis office: 410-841-3555 or toll free at 1-800-492-7122 extension 3555

Thanks everyone for your help! Call if we can do anything to assist you!

Here is the link to the full text bill: http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/hb/hb0009f.pdf
(please not that West Virginia is being amended in)

[gunderwood]

I avoid MD like a plague. When I went looking for a house it wasn't even on the list of possible locations. When I travel through there to PA, I do my darnedest to not stop or spend any money in that state. The state of MD is loosing my (relatively considerable since I live in Loudoun County) tax revenue explicitly because of their laws. It's not just about guns, but guns are a huge part of it.

Until MD changes their laws I purposefully avoid the state despite living near by. Being able to carry in MD with a valid VA CHP would be a start.

[Chasbo00]

My daughter, her husband and my grandsons live in MD. It would be a very welcome change to be able to visit them without having to disarm.

Sadly, I'm not very optimistic that we'll see any carry reciprocity between VA and MD anytime soon.

On a more positive note, I did meet a fellow with a MD concealed carry permit last October -- I was beginning to think that they did not really exist.

[gunderwood]

On a more positive note, I did meet a fellow with a MD concealed carry permit last October -- I was beginning to think that they did not really exist.

Like most corrupt states you need friends with political connections.

[Tweaker]

Good luck, Marylander! If you guys pull this off, it will give some semblance of respect to your state. It is below the Mason Dixon line and all.

An FFDO was pulled over in MD some years back. He was arrested for carrying a firearm without a license. The State Trooper (among the nation's douchiest) took issue with the FFDO not possessing a badge. They were not issued at teh time. His federal credentials were not honored. Long story short, the Governor of MD was awoken at 3AM to unass the FFDO from custody. Me thinks Herr Troopa shant try that again.

Also, their cars look like rolling turds.

[OakRidgeStars]

Also, their cars look like rolling turds.

Sounds about right

[t33j]

I don't care if it does pass; Maryland has a loooooong way to go before I'll even consider doing anything on their soil other than passing through as quickly as possible without getting pulled over.

[VBshooter]

I will say that having reciprocity would help make the passing through rides' pucker factor a lot less than it is now.... The boys in tan do tend to get overzealous somtimes in their quest to be the biggest pricks in the country,,,

[newdovo]

Although I've lived in Virginia since I was a tiny tot, both of my parents grew up in Baltimore. I spent many summers in Balto city and the suburbs as a kid, staying with grandparents, aunts & uncles. Consequently, I go there at least a couple times a year, and enjoy the places we visit.
That being said, as the old adage goes, nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I do feel put off by the fact that I can't even drive through MD without worrying about being harassed by police if I have an unloaded, locked up, containerized, dismantled firearm with me.
It's amazing to think that something that we do here in VA every day would make us a felon across the line in MD. I hope this reciprocity measure is successful, as it certainly would make things a lot easier.

[allingeneral]

Well - after reading it and re-reading it, I finally understand

The first part is a list of "regulated" firearms under the "Public Safety" code (5-101(p)), and the second is 5-117.1 the statement that "A LICENSE ISSUED BY DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA, OR VIRGINIA TO AN INDIVIDUAL TO CARRY A REGULATED FIREARM, INCLUDING A CONCEALED REGULATED FIREARM, IS VALID IN THIS STATE."

I looked up the existing 5-101(p) code and I don't see any difference. What was added or removed from the "Regulated firearms" list that requires it be part of this bill? Why not just reference that code section without spelling it out in the bill, since listing all of those "evil" guns will make anyone sitting on the fence just a bit more likely to vote against the bill.

[mrjam2jab]

While I like the thought of the reciprocity, why only those 3 states? Why not all of them in one shot? I know MD's history on gun control and not wanting peons to carry...but how are those 3 states any better/different than others?

[gunderwood]

While I like the thought of the reciprocity, why only those 3 states? Why not all of them in one shot? I know MD's history on gun control and not wanting peons to carry...but how are those 3 states any better/different than others?

They are nearby and there are lots of people like me who do as little economic activity in MD as possible. There's money to be had and MDs budget isn't so hot right now.

[mrjam2jab]

While I like the thought of the reciprocity, why only those 3 states? Why not all of them in one shot? I know MD's history on gun control and not wanting peons to carry...but how are those 3 states any better/different than others?

They are nearby and there are lots of people like me who do as little economic activity in MD as possible. There's money to be had and MDs budget isn't so hot right now.

So why not WV?

[FatAndy]

While I like the thought of the reciprocity, why only those 3 states? Why not all of them in one shot? I know MD's history on gun control and not wanting peons to carry...but how are those 3 states any better/different than others?

Probably because they don't want their own citizens to go out, get non-resident Utah permits, and suddenly be allowed to carry in MD. They still want to impose their will on their own citizens, but for whatever reason they're just trying to make things a little easier on residents of their neighboring states, which all already have reciprocity with one another (with the exception of PA to DE and vice versa).

[gunderwood]

While I like the thought of the reciprocity, why only those 3 states? Why not all of them in one shot? I know MD's history on gun control and not wanting peons to carry...but how are those 3 states any better/different than others?

They are nearby and there are lots of people like me who do as little economic activity in MD as possible. There's money to be had and MDs budget isn't so hot right now.

So why not WV?

There isn't much of economic value (i.e. tax revenue) that far out in the pan handle (as far as the politicians are concerned). The OP includes WV, but the link does not.

Edit: Take a look at the richest counties in America and realize that NOVA is very high on the list.

[FatAndy]

The OP includes WV, but the link does not.

OP said that WV is being amended in to the bill.

[gunderwood]

The OP includes WV, but the link does not.

OP said that WV is being amended in to the bill.

So perhaps a great question would be, why does it need to be amended? Whomever wrote the bill didn't include WV for some reason.

[mrjam2jab]

The OP includes WV, but the link does not.

OP said that WV is being amended in to the bill.

So perhaps a great question would be, why does it need to be amended? Whomever wrote the bill didn't include WV for some reason.

The first time around they "forgot" WV also..and said they'd amend it...you'd think they woulda got it this time..

[FatAndy]

The OP includes WV, but the link does not.

OP said that WV is being amended in to the bill.

So perhaps a great question would be, why does it need to be amended? Whomever wrote the bill didn't include WV for some reason.

Given how poor most politicians are at so many subjects, it does not surprise me that they would also fail at geography.

[KaosDad]

So, would this allow both concealed and open carry, or just concealed?