Fate of military arms part of larger gun issues

ANNAPOLIS — With a federal prohibition on sale of military-style semiautomatic rifles set to expire next year, gun control advocates in the Maryland legislature plan to push for a state ban during the legislative session that begins in January.

“I doubt very much that Congress will reauthorize the federal ban,” said Delegate Neil Quinter, Howard County Democrat.

He and state Sen. Rob Garagiola, Montgomery County Democrat, plan to introduce companion bills in the House and Senate to ban weapons they say serve no legitimate purpose.

“They are especially deadly and are designed for inflicting lethal harm on a large number of people at once,” Mr. Quinter said.

Opponents and supporters of gun control are considering introducing other bills that would expand or restrict the rights of gun owners, but bills dealing with semiautomatic rifles and shotguns are expected to be at the center of the battle over guns during the 2004 General Assembly session.

A state police report questioning the usefulness of Maryland’s ballistic fingerprinting law for handguns may forestall an attempt to expand that law to include long guns. State Sen. Jennie Forehand, Montgomery County Democrat, said she is considering such a bill.

Supporters of gun rights would like to repeal the ballistic fingerprinting law and pass a “right to carry” bill that would allow Marylanders to carry concealed weapons without a permit. But given the legislative bent toward gun control, there may be no effort to increase gun rights.

“I think we are realists. We know what can get passed and what can’t,” said Senate Minority Leader J. Lowell Stoltzfus, Somerset County Republican.

Delegate Carmen Amedori, Carroll County Republican, said she is considering introducing “right to carry” legislation to repeal the law requiring a state police permit to carry a weapon.

But Mrs. Amedori said that “the biggest thing on the radar screen is the assault weapons ban. We want to make sure that doesn’t reach the governor’s desk.”

Even if Democratic supporters get the assault weapons bill through the legislature, it might be a candidate for a gubernatorial veto, aides to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. say.

“He believes that a so-called assault weapons ban is a folly. Assault weapons are not used in crimes in Maryland,” said Paul Schurick, Mr. Ehrlich’s communications director.

“The governor has made it clear to the few legislators that have raised this issue that he will not support any legislation to ban the weapons,” Mr. Schurick said.

Maryland bans the sale of some semiautomatic pistols, but the state has relied on the federal law to ban sale of long guns such as the AK47 and Uzi.

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