The Washington Post and other media are reporting that today:
The Maryland House of Delegates passed what would be among the nation’s most restrictive gun-control measures Wednesday, voting to ratchet up the state’s already tough rules by requiring fingerprinting of gun buyers, new limits on firearm purchases by the mentally ill, and bans on assault weapons and on magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.. . .
Amid the wave of legislative efforts nationally, Maryland’s is the only package whose new requirements would force gun buyers to provide fingerprints and undergo classroom training, target practice and background checks to obtain a license to buy a firearm.
. . .
Under the Maryland bill, any resident wanting to buy a gun would have to pass the new training and testing requirements before receiving an ID card issued by the Maryland State Police. State officials said the ID card would be similar to a driver’s license, probably with a photo. It would have to be renewed every 10 years.
Marylanders would not need to get a license to buy hunting rifles and shotguns.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates by a vote of 78 to 61.
The version of the bill passed by the Maryland House of Delegates is different (and weaker in some parts) than the version passed by the Maryland Senate in February. Now that the bill has passed the House, the Maryland Senate will either have to pass the House version or both bills will need to go to a conference committee to work out the differences. Should it be necessary for a conference committee to resolve the differences between the two bills, the differences will need to be resolved quickly as an agreement would need to be reached prior to the end of the legislative session on Monday. According to the media accounts, it seems very likely that either the Senate will pass the House version, or that an agreement will be reached by a conference committee.
There does not appear to be any doubt that Governor O'Malley will sign the final legislation as he has pushed the Maryland legislature to enact a strong gun control bill this session.
The House today did roll back several of the changes made by two House Committees last week. These changes weakened the Senate Bill. Among the changes to the Senate bill which were eliminated on the floor of the House were provisions to exempt members of the Maryland Defense Force from certain provisions of the bill and lowering the age to buy a gun. However, other changes made by the two House committees that weakened the Senate bill survived.
Compared to the Senate's version, the House's bill narrows the definition of assault weapons and could allow some future assault weapon models to be sold in the state.
The House version also loosens training requirements and allows assault weapons currently in Maryland to not be registered. And such weapons could still be purchased as long as purchasers could show proof that the sale was initiated before the law took effect.
http://m.capitalgazette.com/...
According to media reports, the NRA is vowing to target lawmakers who voted for the bill and will make an effort to put the law to referendum in 2014.
Here are some media links about the House vote today.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
http://m.capitalgazette.com/...
http://www.wbaltv.com/...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
http://washington.cbslocal.com/...