ANNAPOLIS, Md. — On June 1, a law aimed at stopping the sale and purchase of ghost guns will go into effect in Maryland.
For those of you who might not know a ghost gun is a firearm that has no serial number, this means that they are essentially untraceable or cannot be tracked.
They are typically sold in kits and require self-assembly to use. They are often sold online and piece by piece.
But the larger problem for law enforcement has been how they cannot be traced when a crime has been committed.
Due to this fact, they are often favored by gun traffickers, minors, domestic abusers, and other prohibited individuals.
Examples include back in June 2013, when a man bought a ghost gun kit and built an AR-15 after failing a background check and shot and killed five people in California. Another example came in February of this year when a man used an AR-15 that was later classified as a ghost gun to kill his ex-wife, her boyfriend, and himself in Kansas.
Supporters of the law, such as Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, believe that this bill will help to prevent and solve more gun-related crimes.
In a statement back in April, Frosh stated, “Not only are these weapons dangerous, these unserialized, untraceable firearms hinder law enforcement’s efforts to solve gun crimes…Our law banning ghost guns in Maryland will save lives.”
Not everyone is a fan of the ban, however. Many feel as though such a law infringes on the Second Amendment. Individuals such as Mark Pennak, who testified against the bill, believe that it will turn law-abiding citizens who have been building guns for years into criminals.
“They may have held those guns for decades, and they’ve all of a sudden, they’ve become criminals – that’s a major due process problem,” Pennak said.
This law is being allowed to go into effect without the signature of Governor Larry Hogan, who is hoping that Maryland lawmakers will next focus on passing his proposed Violent Firearms Offender Act.
“At the very least, I ask you to give the victims and their families a vote, so that legislators can explain to their constituents where they stand on this issue”, Hogan wrote in a letter to the Maryland General Assembly.
The bill is set to work in two phases. Phase one will outlaw the buying and selling of ghost guns on June 1, 2022. Phase two will completely ban ownership of them on March 1, 2023.
Those found to violate the law could face anywhere from a $10,000 fine to up to five years in prison.
Those interested in reading Governor Hogan’s letter addressing the Maryland General Assembly regarding the bill can find it at https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/letterstogenassembly-1.pdf.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
“But the larger problem for law enforcement has been how they cannot be traced when a crime has been committed.”
It is unconstitutional for ‘them’ to have or keep a gun registry.
Really good law, when it turns ordinary law abiding citizens into criminals.
Who has the intestinal fortitude to come and get them?
They don’t seem to address any of the pre-1968 firearms that DID NOT require serial numbers.
Keep electing those people that don’t address the problems, it’s people like them that are already the criminals, not the guns.
“Baud9600 says:May 31, 2022 at 10:41 am It is unconstitutional for ‘them’ to have or keep a gun registry.” That is incorrect.
Show me.
Actually why don’t you show that is correct…using court opinion not Fox News BS.
Well, I’m sure that dumb dog and 12 of the “anonymous” drones on here are happy with this useless law.
Those kids in our Annapolis State House are really funny aren’t they? Making more laws that will NEVER be enforced. They’ll collect 3 ghost guns in a year and will make it front page news.
Remember how gun sales went through the roof under Obama & Joe? Remember why they sold so many? All you Annapolis kids will be doing is making those guns sell more than ever!
https://media1.tenor.com/images/ebe17a5db02b5d57d7cae1d36dea59c8/tenor.gif?itemid=7953745
Better watch it, dumb dog will run and tell the site on you for making fun of him
Remember, you are supposed to be a conservative—this means you are responsible for your own actions.
Gun sales went through the roof because you idiot sheep were so afraid that someone would take your manhood by taking your guns. If you depend on weapons to feel like a man, you’re really pathetic.
Do not ever question a jury’s verdict when you disagree. You’ll be on one side of justice some day and you better hope those 12 neighbors have learned critical thinking.
Hey Archie, what year saw the largest number of gun sales in the US?
Not that Archie will do this, but go ahead and do a quick search on the number of ghost guns linked to crimes in MD and Baltimore.
First off, selling ghost guns has always been illegal since it’s a pistol once you take the material and make it into a frame or receiver. You can’t buy ghost guns either because it’s an actual firearm at that point. What they are banning are pieces of matter that aren’t even firearms. Blocks of metal are now firearms. What they are saying is that the government will spy into your purchases to see if something can be made into a firearm. Ever shop at lowes, home depot, or ace? Well now you are on a watch list, especially if you buy power tools because that’s an easy way to build a gun. I hope this bill gets shut down prior to 2023 or else the government becomes more powerful than the average citizen knows. Those who claim “It’s for the better” are the same people who support the “patriot” act.
So, this new “Gun Law” will prevent non serialized guns from being available and owned after March 2023? You jest!
Since when do bad people follow gun laws? With 3-D Printers for sale for under $200. I am suppressed that you don’t try to ban them also.
wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to ban 3d printers at this point. Pretty much any gun without a serial number will be illegal by march time… Since most don’t register home built guns, it’ll be impossible to prove in the court of law EVEN if they add a grandfather clause. Maryland law makers at their finest. I can’t wait until my gun breaks and a task force raids my house because I bought a parts kit online.
Why do you gun nutters not understand the purpose of a law?
Why do anti-gun whiners not understand that laws do not matter to the thug criminals?
Thanks for proving my point. Laws don’t prevent bad behavior. They set up punishment for bad behavior.
You don’t understand anything, like 2+2=4
Why don’t you get a new ID, troll?
I would if you’d stop being a tattletale
How about this one?
please keep in mind that the mentally ill need to be able to defend themselves, also.
if this is a law that doesn’t make any sense, are we responsible for it anyhow?
Is that how you think the US legal/judicial system works?
Maybe we should start banning knives without serial numbers as well, and from those, like blacksmiths, from making them at home. Since knives come in second after firearms as the weapon used to murder people, more so to injure people.
Okay, just thinking outside of the box. A law-abiding citizen buys a legal gun, but it is stolen a few years later. It is reported, but of course, there is never closure. Five years later or more, Police are breaking into the homeowner’s house, because that gun was found in the commission of a crime. The homeowner is shot reaching for his cellphone to call his lawyer.
One more, I do not have the statistics but I believe automobiles outnumber guns and knives as a killer. Somebody look it up, my break is over.
Cancer and heart disease kill more Americans, too. What’s your point? You want to ban death?
What a bunch of cry babies Bit** about being legal and blue lives matter until they ask you to follow the law!
People have their heads buried in sand. Nobody is going to stop the criminals from selling guns. None of these laws would prevent school shootings EXCEPT extra armed trained security.
Which of course you would refuse to pay for since that would require additional taxation.
“Big dog is a troll says: June 2, 2022 at 6:53 am How about this one?” This is perfect for you…it stays true to your lack of intellect and maturity.
Another hypocritical comment
Only to a mind as weak as yours.
Another hypocritical comment
“Anonymous says: June 1, 2022 at 8:25 pm I would if you’d stop being a tattletale” Remember, you are supposed to be a conservative—this means you are responsible for your own actions.
Hypocrite, you’ll run and tell on me for that too I suppose
Come on tough guy, take responsibility for your own actions, your own comments and your own lack of intelligence/maturity. I didn’t turn you in and I certainly wouldn’t want your current spate of whiny responses removed, they are just so priceless, princess.
my how times have changed. David Duke has a radio show thats worth listening to sometimes. He says that when he was 11, his granddad gave him enough to go buy a gun. He did, no questions asked. Like bubblegum? Was buying a gun at that time, in that state, thought to be the same as buying bubble gum?
Its not a gun problem , its a person problem