Today, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee issued a favorable report to Senate Bill 387, to ban Marylanders from building so-called “ghost guns,” with amendments. The legislation has been adjusted with amendments, including changes to avoid federal prohibitions for a possession violation. While a mechanism to keep currently lawful homemade firearms alleviates the impact of the restriction for law-abiding citizens, and NRA thanks the senators who fought hard to add that provision, NRA nonetheless opposes SB 387. Please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 387.
Senate Bill 387 is overly broad, and will end the centuries-old practice of individuals building lawful firearms for personal use. It prohibits transfer or possession of unfinished firearm parts that are not regulated under federal law, as well as firearms without serial numbers, with an exemption for pre-1968 firearms and antiques. It requires anyone who wishes to keep their previously legal items to have a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) apply a serial number to them.
As amended in committee, the bill requires owners of the banned items to then register them with state police. Violations of selling or transferring, while misdemeanors, are punishable by up to five years of imprisonment, which results in the permanent loss of Second Amendment rights.
Again, please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 387.
