Victory for Gun Sense: Maryland Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Governor Larry Hogan for Signing Gun Violence Prevention Legislation

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today praised Gov. Larry Hogan and Maryland lawmakers for ensuring a trio of gun violence prevention bills will become law. These bills are:

• HB 1302, referred to as Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) legislation, will make it possible for families and law enforcement to petition courts for an order to temporarily restrict a person’s access to firearms if they are a risk to themselves or others. This is commonly referred to as a Red Flag Law.
• HB 1646, Protect Maryland Survivors, will require convicted domestic abusers to surrender guns to law enforcement or a firearms dealer. These dangerous abusers are already prohibited from possessing guns under Maryland law. However, due to a dangerous gap in the law, they were not required to surrender the guns they already owned before they were convicted. This life-saving bill closes that loophole and requires surrender of firearms by all prohibited abusers.
• HB 888 will prohibit bump stocks and other conversion devices. This bill makes it illegal to own, manufacture or sell bump stocks, trigger cranks and other firearm conversion devices that effectively allow semi-automatic firearms to mimic the firing speeds of machine guns.

STATEMENT FROM ANGELA WRIGHT, VOLUNTEER WITH THE MARYLAND CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Today I am overwhelmed to know that Maryland is finally closing this dangerous loophole for domestic abusers. No family should have to go through the terror my family and I went through everyday while living with an abusive husband who owned guns and was never required to turn them in. This is a big day for domestic violence survivors and law enforcement in Maryland and all those who want to prevent gun violence in our communities.”

STATEMENT FROM JENNIFER STAPLETON, VOLUNTEER WITH THE MARYLAND CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Finally. After a three-year fight I could not be more proud of my fellow Moms Demand Action volunteers for not giving up and continuing to put pressure on the judiciary, lawmakers and states attorneys to protect survivors of domestic violence. We appreciate Delegate Atterbeary, Senator Smith and States Attorney Mosby’s tireless support and leadership on this lifesaving domestic violence legislation and Delegate Valentino-Smith and our partners for their unceasing determination to pass a Red Flag Law. Once again Maryland took action to protect families and demonstrated leadership by passing common-sense gun legislation.”