(2008-02-19) A Senate bill, SB 914, has been introduced by Senators Muse and Frosh that cuts to the core of handgun availability in the state. Its title is simply "Handgun Roster Board - Membership" and its text is simple. It would clarify that one of the members of the board responsible for approving handguns to be listed for sale here be a representative of an organization that advocates against handgun violence.
Why would such a bill be needed? Isn't there already a "Ceasefire" representative on the Board? Yes - but control of that appointment was recently challenged by John Josselyn and the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore (AGC), who incorporated under that name after noticing that the long-time gun grabber's organization had recently allowed the standing (registered in the state) to lapse. They then marched into Annapolis, disrupted what would have been a routine appointment to the Roster Board, and started advertising a pro-gun message (and memberships) under the Ceasefire name.
If this was anything more than a foolhardy attempt to get headlines, then the logic escapes us. Mooning leadership is generally not the smartest move, since legislators and governors have the last laugh. Introduction of SB 914 is one of the several natural and predictable consequences of taking another group's name, image and, in this case, its ability to have input on a gubernatorial appointment. The bill just submitted "clarifies" who gets that input. [There are other predictable consequences which we understand may be in the works, but fortunately they may only impact AGC and its member clubs.]
Unfortunately, the section of code opened up for this "correction" affects sale of ALL HANDGUNS IN THE STATE. What else will legislators snug up as long as the law is open to amendment? Add a word here and strike a word there, and it could be goodbye handguns in Maryland - forever.
Approval of new handguns to the roster is already on hold, as the process has gone into disarray. The entire firearms community will be forced to expend all resources to stop 914 from turning into a disaster - all needlessly, and potentially unsuccessfully, since many friends in tough districts won't want to have to walk the plank for us on a self-inflicted technical measure that can't be explained back in the district.
SB 914 ... or "The AGC Act" as it deserves to be called ... will be available in the legislative services computer tomorrow.