After passing on the final day of the 2023 session, the fate of a controversial concealed carry bill now rests on the Maryland governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 1, also dubbed the Gun Safety Act of 2023, would limit where people can conceal carry a firearm to include places such as preschools, stadiums, government buildings and polling places. Gov. Wes Moore previously told WBFF he does plan to sign the bill, but a group of state lawmakers is pleading for him to pen a veto instead.
In total, 36 House Republicans sent a letter to the governor Friday morning, writing in part, “This bill has nothing to do with gun safety. Instead, in our view, this bill is a de facto ban on the legal wearing and carrying of a firearm in Maryland. As written, this legislation would criminalize the otherwise lawful activities of concealed carry permit holders for merely exercising their rights.”
The letter goes on to say, “Every member of the General Assembly wants an end to the violent crime that has been plaguing our state for much too long. The members of our Caucus are willing partners in making Maryland safer. Senate Bill 1 is not the way. We are therefore respectfully requesting your veto of Senate.”
One of the lawmakers behind the letter, Del. Kathy Szeliga, called the new restrictions unconstitutional.
“These are safe citizens,” she said, “If you’re a faithful, law-abiding citizen, you are guaranteed by our Constitution and the Second Amendment a right to bear arms.”
Along with Republican lawmakers, pro-gun groups have also fired back at the measure. Shortly after the bill’s passage, the group “Maryland Shall Issue” threatened to take legal action should the bill become law.
“It’s an illegal bill that just needs to be vetoed and start over again,” said Szeliga.’
Waste of time asking a democrat to do something that makes sense. Hope the courts follow the law but who knows. The courts are as corrupt as the politicians now.
You hit the nail on the head 10:47. The courts are corrupt !!!!
How about a sensible approach by waiting a year or two before attacking a constitutional law that was blessed by the United States Supreme Court. I suspect many crimes in Maryland will be reduced, such as car jackings, purse snatching, store robberies, subway violence, ect, ect, with passing of the Shall Issue change. Making places gun free will be like shooting fish in a barrel for the ones intent on killing people.
I think stats tell us a “gun free zone” is exactly where gun crimes occur, criminals do not follow laws…what don’t the demon crats understand?
Our governor is an idiot. Ever wonder why he is smiling and grinning all the time? It’s because he has thought of more ways to screw the people of Maryland . He doesn’t care about the law abiding taxpayers only the ones who are standing in line waiting for another hand out or free program for them. I thought hogan was a terrible governor, he will seem like a saint compared to what we have now
Asking this DEMON DEMOCRAT to veto this bill is like asking a Hungary person not to eat at a free all you can eat food bar. That will never happen, since half of MD never heard of him and he was elected by the I95 corridor. He needs to pass a LEGAL RIGHT TO CARRY and lower the fees to make them affordable. He is just another MARXIST DEMON DEMOCRAT who will never prosecute criminals that violate the law and put them in PRISON or MENTAL HOSPITOLS. These GUN FREE ZONES are telling the criminals where to go. BLANTANT VIOLATION OF THE 2ND AMENDMENT and endangering MD CITIZENS. AS A RETIRED CORRECTIONAL COME AND ARREST ME SINCE I WILL BE CARRYING TO PROTECT MY FAMILY. 20 years as a CO GIVES ME THAT RIGHT< SINCE I HAVE HAD 20 years of 3 WEAPON TRAINING EACH YEAR WITH A 96% SCORES.
I’ll continue to carry wherever I want. I legally own my guns and have a permit to carry. Should I ever have to use it in a”restricted” zone, I’ll take my chances in court.
Just like the old saying goes…better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
I agree 153 comment
Hey Cracker imposter, what you say now ?
Just what I thought, typical dimocrat loser
Here’s a simple solution, Leave the State of Communist Maryland and never look Back.
Take your conservative Family and leave this State and never look back. The State of Maryland does not give a crap about your Constitutional rights.
A democrat with a vote is more dangerous than a law abiding citizen with a gun will ever be.
lmao! like I need permission from some government stooge to exercise my rights! did you get a permission slip to right voice your comments above? piss off! my rights come from God not man! and I’ll continue to enjoy all those freedoms enshrined in the constitution regardless of what some government liberal pos might think!
let the politcos give up their security details! there’s nothing in the constitution about requiring them!