Gun-ban bill dies in Senate committee

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ANNAPOLIS -- A Senate committee narrowly defeated a bill yesterday that would have banned the sale of 19 semiautomatic gun types in Maryland.

The bill was defeated 6-5 in the Judicial Proceedings Committee, with the deciding vote cast by Sen. John A. Giannetti Jr., Anne Arundel and Prince George's Democrat.

"I think the gun debate died when [Mr. Giannetti] decided he wasn't going to support any kind of ban," said House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Anne Arundel Democrat.

The bill was intended to replace a federal ban on military-style weapons that is set to expire in September and is not expected to be renewed by Congress.

Gun-control advocates saw the bill as the last opportunity this year to strengthen Maryland's gun laws. Thirty other gun-related bills remain, but lawmakers are not expected to vote on them with less than two weeks left in the 2004 General Assembly session.

Sen. Robert J. Garagiola, Montgomery Democrat and the bill's sponsor, acknowledged that he tried to amend the legislation to get Mr. Giannetti to change his mind.

The [National Rifle Association] won, and the citizens of Maryland lost," Mr. Garagiola said. "Hopefully, Congress will do the right thing at this point and reauthorize it."

Maryland banned a number of military-style assault pistols about 10 years ago but allows the sale of 45 models of semiautomatic assault weapons if a buyer passes a criminal background check and agrees to a seven-day waiting period.

The federal law prohibits the sale of guns that have two or more characteristics of an assault weapon, such as a grenade launcher. There are 19 weapons banned under the law.

The proposal in the General Assembly would have banned sales of the 45 models that are now legal but would not affect guns already sold.

Mr. Giannetti has said that Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, would veto the bill.

The 30 remaining gun-related bills -- not expected to make it to the floor -- include efforts to lift a ban on selling some guns without safety devices; allow more residents to carry a concealed weapon, and make it a crime to use a toy gun to commit a crime.

Delegate Neil F. Quinter, Howard County Democrat, sponsored companion legislation to Mr. Garagiola's bill, which also is not expected to make it to out of the House Judiciary Committee.

This is the second straight year Mr. Garagiola and Mr. Quinter have tried to pass a more stringent assault weapons ban in the state. They had the support of Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, both Democrats and Mr. Ehrlich's chief rivals in state politics. Five other states have imposed similar firearm restrictions. Connecticut and Kentucky are considering similar bans.

The U.S. Senate has voted in favor of a bill to extend the federal ban on weapons and to require background checks for buyers at private gun shows.

However, President Bush and gun manufacturers oppose the bill, which includes provisions to force the Republican-controlled House to accept lawsuits against gun dealers.

The assembly is scheduled to adjourn April 12.