The Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after the Maryland Senate passed legislation requiring background checks on all rifle and shotgun sales in Maryland. The legislation now heads to the Maryland House of Delegates, and likely onto a conference committee.
“This vote marks a new milestone in the fight to keep our families safe from gun violence,” said Danielle Veith, a volunteer with the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action. “After the disappointment of last session, we refuse to stand by and watch our elected officials let Maryland communities down again. As this bill moves forward, we hope lawmakers will have the courage to stand up for what’s right and fight for the strongest bill possible.”
Last session, volunteers with Maryland Moms Demand Action spent countless hours urging lawmakers to pass comprehensive background check legislation. However, efforts to close Maryland’s dangerous background check loophole were blocked when since-departed Senate leadership ran out the clock.
Under current Maryland law, sales of rifles and shotguns by unlicensed sellers do not require a background check. That makes it easy for convicted felons, domestic abusers and other people who are legally prohibited from having guns to obtain these deadly weapons from unlicensed sellers through sales arranged online or at gun shows. For more than two decades, Maryland law has required background checks on all handgun sales.
