Local Politicians statements on recent Gun-related events and legislation
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Cardin Votes for Historic Package of Gun Safety Legislation
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will save lives, but there still is more work that we can and should do to keep our students and our communities safe.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called Senate passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act “an important step forward today to break the decades-long gridlock on gun safety.” He said that the “legislation we passed in the Senate today will save lives and help keep our communities safer, but there are many more reasonable steps we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.” Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of legislation to ban assault weapons, ban high-capacity magazines and close the loophole on background checks so that all sales include one. He also supports raising the minimum age of purchasing an assault weapon to 21, in the absence of a ban.
Senator Cardin’s full statement follows:
“After the horrific shooting in Uvalde where innocent children were murdered, inaction was not an option. Congress had to do something substantive to help stem the epidemic of gun violence that is scarring our communities daily. For this reason, and for all the victims of gun violence who may not have made headlines, I was proud to vote today for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“The Senate is taking an important step forward today to break the decades-long gridlock on gun safety. This legislation will save lives by boosting funding for community violence intervention (CVI) and prevention initiatives, like those underway in Baltimore. It strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence by adding convicted domestic violence abusers to background checks. It creates a new source of funding for states to implement “red flag” laws, which help to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals who should not have access to a firearm. It cracks down on criminals who try to evade licensing requirements and makes clear which gun sellers need to register, conduct background checks and keep appropriate records. It strengthens the background check process for those under 21 seeking to buy firearms, by ensuring that officials have access to juvenile and mental health records.
“We also provide much needed mental health resources to communities by providing funding to improve and expand access to mental health services. Among other provisions, it includes telehealth services for students with Medicaid and CHIP. Increasing resources for mental health services are crucial, but it is important that we not conflate mental illness and gun violence. Not every instance of gun violence is connected to mental illness and not every mental health crisis prompts the use of a weapon.
“To that end, the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear that our children need additional mental health resources offered in school. We also must significantly increase the pipeline of individuals willing to serve in those school-based mental health service positions. This legislation addresses that challenges head on and provides supplemental funding to both train new school-based mental health service providers and provide students with the specific mental health care services they require. While not able to fully meet the needs of every school currently without a counselor or mental health professional, this bill will make significant strides to ensure that a significantly greater percentage of students have access to mental health care services.
“The legislation we passed in the Senate today will save lives and help keep our communities safer, but there are many more reasonable steps we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. I will continue to strongly support the establishment of universal background checks for all gun purchases, the banning of assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips, and raising the minimum age to 21 to buy assault weapons, in the absence of a ban. The Senate should also act quickly to confirm the nomination of Steven Dettelbach to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF has not had a permanent Senate-confirmed director since 2015, and the agency is sorely overdue for permanent leadership who can carry out its critical mission to stem the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, among other important priorities.”
Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of the following legislation:
· The Background Check Expansion Act ( 529) would require checks for all gun sales, including those by unlicensed sellers.
· The Assault Weapons Ban Act ( 736) would generally ban the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of assault weapons.
· The Background Check Completion Act ( 591) would eliminate the “Charleston loophole” that allows for a sale to go forward if a check is not completed within three days.
· The Keep Americans Safe Act ( 1108) would prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will save lives, but there still is more work that we can and should do to keep our students and our communities safe.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) called Senate passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act “an important step forward today to break the decades-long gridlock on gun safety.” He said that the “legislation we passed in the Senate today will save lives and help keep our communities safer, but there are many more reasonable steps we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.” Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of legislation to ban assault weapons, ban high-capacity magazines and close the loophole on background checks so that all sales include one. He also supports raising the minimum age of purchasing an assault weapon to 21, in the absence of a ban.
Senator Cardin’s full statement follows:
“After the horrific shooting in Uvalde where innocent children were murdered, inaction was not an option. Congress had to do something substantive to help stem the epidemic of gun violence that is scarring our communities daily. For this reason, and for all the victims of gun violence who may not have made headlines, I was proud to vote today for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
“The Senate is taking an important step forward today to break the decades-long gridlock on gun safety. This legislation will save lives by boosting funding for community violence intervention (CVI) and prevention initiatives, like those underway in Baltimore. It strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence by adding convicted domestic violence abusers to background checks. It creates a new source of funding for states to implement “red flag” laws, which help to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals who should not have access to a firearm. It cracks down on criminals who try to evade licensing requirements and makes clear which gun sellers need to register, conduct background checks and keep appropriate records. It strengthens the background check process for those under 21 seeking to buy firearms, by ensuring that officials have access to juvenile and mental health records.
“We also provide much needed mental health resources to communities by providing funding to improve and expand access to mental health services. Among other provisions, it includes telehealth services for students with Medicaid and CHIP. Increasing resources for mental health services are crucial, but it is important that we not conflate mental illness and gun violence. Not every instance of gun violence is connected to mental illness and not every mental health crisis prompts the use of a weapon.
“To that end, the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear that our children need additional mental health resources offered in school. We also must significantly increase the pipeline of individuals willing to serve in those school-based mental health service positions. This legislation addresses that challenges head on and provides supplemental funding to both train new school-based mental health service providers and provide students with the specific mental health care services they require. While not able to fully meet the needs of every school currently without a counselor or mental health professional, this bill will make significant strides to ensure that a significantly greater percentage of students have access to mental health care services.
“The legislation we passed in the Senate today will save lives and help keep our communities safer, but there are many more reasonable steps we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. I will continue to strongly support the establishment of universal background checks for all gun purchases, the banning of assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips, and raising the minimum age to 21 to buy assault weapons, in the absence of a ban. The Senate should also act quickly to confirm the nomination of Steven Dettelbach to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF has not had a permanent Senate-confirmed director since 2015, and the agency is sorely overdue for permanent leadership who can carry out its critical mission to stem the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, among other important priorities.”
Senator Cardin is a cosponsor of the following legislation:
· The Background Check Expansion Act ( 529) would require checks for all gun sales, including those by unlicensed sellers.
· The Assault Weapons Ban Act ( 736) would generally ban the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of assault weapons.
· The Background Check Completion Act ( 591) would eliminate the “Charleston loophole” that allows for a sale to go forward if a check is not completed within three days.
· The Keep Americans Safe Act ( 1108) would prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
MAYORS AGAINST ILLEGAL GUNS CO-CHAIRS RESPOND TO SECOND AMENDMENT SUPREME COURT DECISION
NEW YORK – Today, Mayors Brandon Scott (Baltimore, MD), Shawyn Patterson-Howard (Mount Vernon, NY), and Eric Adams (New York, NY), co-chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a nonpartisan coalition of more than 1,000 current and former mayors that is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, which ruled against New York regarding one aspect of its concealed-carry permitting law. Seven other states have similar requirements: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
“It’s clear that today’s Supreme Court decision will exacerbate the devastating toll that gun violence has on our cities. But we won’t let the court stop us from doing our jobs, and we’ll continue to work with our fellow mayors across the country to implement strategies to protect our public spaces from gun violence and keep guns out of places they don’t belong.”
More information on the case is available here.
Today’s decision comes as a bipartisan supermajority of the U.S. Senate is poised to pass major gun safety legislation for the first time in 26 years. If enacted, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will establish an enhanced background check process for gun buyers under age 21, provide federal funding to implement state Red Flag laws, disarm domestic abusers by addressing the dating partner loophole, and fund community violence intervention programs, among other items.
About Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors of major American cities to more than 1,000 current and former mayors. The nonpartisan coalition has united mayors around these common goals: advancing enforcement and data collection strategies to prevent gun violence; investing in survivor services and violence intervention programs to address gun violence; and advocating for gun safety legislation at the local, state, and federal level. Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a joint program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with over eight million supporters and more than 375,000 donors. Learn more at mayors.everytown.org
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NEW YORK – Today, Mayors Brandon Scott (Baltimore, MD), Shawyn Patterson-Howard (Mount Vernon, NY), and Eric Adams (New York, NY), co-chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a nonpartisan coalition of more than 1,000 current and former mayors that is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, which ruled against New York regarding one aspect of its concealed-carry permitting law. Seven other states have similar requirements: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
“It’s clear that today’s Supreme Court decision will exacerbate the devastating toll that gun violence has on our cities. But we won’t let the court stop us from doing our jobs, and we’ll continue to work with our fellow mayors across the country to implement strategies to protect our public spaces from gun violence and keep guns out of places they don’t belong.”
More information on the case is available here.
Today’s decision comes as a bipartisan supermajority of the U.S. Senate is poised to pass major gun safety legislation for the first time in 26 years. If enacted, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act will establish an enhanced background check process for gun buyers under age 21, provide federal funding to implement state Red Flag laws, disarm domestic abusers by addressing the dating partner loophole, and fund community violence intervention programs, among other items.
About Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors of major American cities to more than 1,000 current and former mayors. The nonpartisan coalition has united mayors around these common goals: advancing enforcement and data collection strategies to prevent gun violence; investing in survivor services and violence intervention programs to address gun violence; and advocating for gun safety legislation at the local, state, and federal level. Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a joint program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with over eight million supporters and more than 375,000 donors. Learn more at mayors.everytown.org
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Hoyer Statement on Supreme Court Decision Weakening Gun Safety Laws
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen:
“It is egregious that in the weeks after multiple horrific mass shootings in the United States, the Supreme Court has chosen to make it easier for Americans to carry a gun. Today’s Supreme Court ruling is yet another reason why Congress must enact comprehensive background check laws like those passed by the House last year as well as the Protecting Our Kids Act and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act we approved this month. While the Senate’s bipartisan gun-safety legislation would be an important step forward, it will not be enough on its own. As the Court moves to weaken gun-safety laws, we must meet that challenge by strengthening our laws wherever we can. That’s why the House will move swiftly to act on the Senate’s compromise legislation when it is ready, but we will not allow that to be the only action Congress takes. Our communities and families are demanding action. The House will move swiftly to act on the Senate’s compromise legislation when it is ready, and we ought to continue to pursue further steps once that occurs. I am deeply concerned about how this ruling will affect Maryland and other states that already have strong gun-safety laws."
Hoyer: Let Us Begin to End the Cycle of Tragedy and Inaction on Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor this afternoon in support of S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the full video:
Click here for a link to the video.
“For years, the gun violence epidemic in our country has forced us to cope with the immeasurable grief and loss. Throughout America, many communities have begun to erect memorials to remember those they have lost through gun violence. These monuments are not much different than those right outside the National Mall that honor Americans killed in war.
“Just last week, people in San Bernardino, California, unveiled a ‘curtain of courage’ made of steel and bronze to pay tribute to the sixteen people who were murdered in a mass shooting there in 2015. In Newtown, Connecticut, a planned memorial will feature a spiral of granite inscribed with the names of the twenty children and six teachers killed at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. Memorials are being built or planned as well to honor those who died in shootings in Charleston, Orlando, Las Vegas, El Paso, Buffalo, Uvalde, and many others.
“The best way, I suggest, to honor those we have lost to gun violence, however, is not with bronze or with steel or with granite; rather, it is with meaningful action to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was overwhelmingly passed by the United States Senate, which I am pleased to bring to the Floor today, is a step in the right direction to take action. This legislation includes measures that will reduce the threat from gun violence and save lives across the country. It will help implement ‘red-flag’ laws that empower law-enforcement officers to keep guns out of the hands of people at risk of using them to harm themselves or others.
“Closing the so-called ‘boyfriend loophole’ in this bill will prevent people convicted of domestic abuse in a dating relationship from possessing deadly firearms. They have displayed violence. They ought to be prohibited from getting weapons, which will make mass violence more probable and possible. It will also require more-thorough background checks for Americans under the age of twenty-one who seek to purchase a gun. Now, we passed expanded background checks through this House. Eighty-five percent of the American people say they're for that, and that's the minimum. But no action has been taken in the United States Senate. But they have taken some action, and some action is better than no action. Additionally, this legislation includes $250 million in funding for community-based violence-prevention programs. Do we not want to see community violence diminished? And it will also crack down on those who make ‘straw purchases’ – purchases of large portions of guns that, otherwise, under the existing system, could not be purchased by the ultimate user of those guns.
“I want to thank Sen. Murphy, Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, Rep. Lucy McBath, Rep. Robin Kelly, Chairman Mike Thompson of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and those Republicans who said that N.R.A. does not stand for ‘No Republican Action.’ They took action. They stood up, even in the face of boos from their own party. This legislation, as I said, is a step forward, and that's how we make progress in America: a step at a time. None of us have had the opportunity ever to vote on a perfect bill in this House. We vote on good bills, bills that we feel will move our country forward. This is that kind of bill – a step forward, but not enough. Many of us feel that we need to do more. We need to do comprehensive background checks. We need to close the Charleston loophole. We sent those bills to the Senate. We can and must do more.
“Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will weaken commonsense gun-safety laws all over the country. Yes, we could return to the OK Corral and everybody having a six-shooter on their hip – and anybody who thinks that would make us a safer, more-civil community, I think, is sadly mistaken. That fact ought to disturb all of us very deeply. The Court's decision to make it even easier for bad actors to carry dangerous concealed guns without restrictions should serve as a reminder that we need to take additional active steps to protect our communities and our kids – actions that are supported by the overwhelming majority of the American people.
“If we fail to do that – if we allow this legislation to be the end instead of the beginning – parents will continue to receive that dreaded, unfathomable call that they will never see their children again. New monuments honoring victims will continue to pop up in communities across the country. Ladies and gentlemen of this House, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals: we don't need additional memorials. We need action. We need new laws.
“If we can follow today's legislation with action on comprehensive background checks and further gun-safety measures, however, future generations – perhaps not guaranteed, but it is certainly worth the effort to reduce the gun violence, to reduce the need for memorials – if we do not, those who come after will wonder why their forebears allowed such violence to be perpetrated uniquely in America. You don't find this in other countries, democratic countries, free countries, who protect individual rights. Ladies and gentlemen of this House, today, in just a few minutes, let us begin to end the cycle of tragedy and inaction. Let us pass this bill and say: ‘no more.’ Let us pass it and then do more. Vote ‘yes.’”
County Executive Pittman Issues Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision in NYSRPA vs. Bruen
Annapolis, MD (June 23, 2022) - Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a New York state law requiring a special permit to carry a handgun outside of the home:
“Gun violence is a national epidemic that causes local pain, suffering, and loss. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court threatens to overturn our state’s common-sense, effective regulations that limit the concealed carrying of guns in public spaces. As we work to prevent gun violence, this decision is likely to increase it.
Since taking office, I have made it a priority to examine and implement local policies to prevent gun violence and death in Anne Arundel County. I created the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and asked its members to recommend solutions we could put in place. You can read the Task Force’s final report here.
Next week, the Gun Violence Intervention Team - created through the Task Force’s recommendations - will issue its Strategic Plan. While this Supreme Court decision is a setback, I will continue to work alongside residents and experts to make our communities safer through common sense gun policies.”
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Annapolis, MD (June 23, 2022) - Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a New York state law requiring a special permit to carry a handgun outside of the home:
“Gun violence is a national epidemic that causes local pain, suffering, and loss. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court threatens to overturn our state’s common-sense, effective regulations that limit the concealed carrying of guns in public spaces. As we work to prevent gun violence, this decision is likely to increase it.
Since taking office, I have made it a priority to examine and implement local policies to prevent gun violence and death in Anne Arundel County. I created the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and asked its members to recommend solutions we could put in place. You can read the Task Force’s final report here.
Next week, the Gun Violence Intervention Team - created through the Task Force’s recommendations - will issue its Strategic Plan. While this Supreme Court decision is a setback, I will continue to work alongside residents and experts to make our communities safer through common sense gun policies.”
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County Executive Pittman, Arundel Arundel County Department of Health Announce Strategic Plan to Reduce Gun Violence in Anne Arundel County
The all-in-one resource document identifies key evidenced-based and data-driven strategies to address gun violence
Annapolis, Maryland (June 28, 2022) – Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel County Department of Health announce the release of a strategic plan to reduce gun violence led by the county’s Gun Violence Intervention Team (GVIT). Using a structured public health approach, the plan identifies data-driven and evidence-based strategies that engage community members, law enforcement, mental and behavioral health agencies, and gun violence intervention organizations in collaborative advocacy, prevention and response initiatives.
“Our Gun Violence Intervention Team has done extraordinary work bringing all county agencies and residents together to confront gun violence as a public health crisis,” said County Executive Pittman. “While politicians across the country play games with this crisis, we in Anne Arundel County are working to save lives.”
The strategic plan includes six overarching goals and corresponding objectives, strategies, evaluation metrics and future steps. It is a culmination of the analysis of recent, local gun violence trends, a systematic review of strategic plans from gun violence teams across the country, and input from community members. It incorporates the recommendations made by the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF) formed by an Executive Order signed by County Executive Pittman in 2019.
“We recognize that guns are in society, but we must eliminate the violence that leads to countless deaths and injuries,” Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said. “At the root of this are difficult problems that require working in partnership with communities using evidence-based strategies. It’s a challenge our county is ready for.”
The release of the strategic plan falls on a difficult anniversary - the day a gunman killed Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters, five employees of the Gazette newsroom. The document is intended to be an all-in-one resource for the community and blueprint for the future of gun violence prevention efforts in the county that was birthed out of the tragic incident. There are links, resources, and graphics to show the progress of the coalition. A range of experts from Anne Arundel County, Annapolis City agencies, nonprofits, Anne Arundel Community College, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health lent their expertise as members of the GVIT and in developing the plan.
County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel Health Officer Dr. Kalyanaraman, joined by Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, community advocates and members of the GVIT, will introduce and discuss the strategic plan today at 5:00pm during an event at the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial on Newman and Compromise Streets in Annapolis.
The strategic plan is available to the public by visiting www.aahealth.org/GVIT
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The all-in-one resource document identifies key evidenced-based and data-driven strategies to address gun violence
Annapolis, Maryland (June 28, 2022) – Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel County Department of Health announce the release of a strategic plan to reduce gun violence led by the county’s Gun Violence Intervention Team (GVIT). Using a structured public health approach, the plan identifies data-driven and evidence-based strategies that engage community members, law enforcement, mental and behavioral health agencies, and gun violence intervention organizations in collaborative advocacy, prevention and response initiatives.
“Our Gun Violence Intervention Team has done extraordinary work bringing all county agencies and residents together to confront gun violence as a public health crisis,” said County Executive Pittman. “While politicians across the country play games with this crisis, we in Anne Arundel County are working to save lives.”
The strategic plan includes six overarching goals and corresponding objectives, strategies, evaluation metrics and future steps. It is a culmination of the analysis of recent, local gun violence trends, a systematic review of strategic plans from gun violence teams across the country, and input from community members. It incorporates the recommendations made by the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF) formed by an Executive Order signed by County Executive Pittman in 2019.
“We recognize that guns are in society, but we must eliminate the violence that leads to countless deaths and injuries,” Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said. “At the root of this are difficult problems that require working in partnership with communities using evidence-based strategies. It’s a challenge our county is ready for.”
The release of the strategic plan falls on a difficult anniversary - the day a gunman killed Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters, five employees of the Gazette newsroom. The document is intended to be an all-in-one resource for the community and blueprint for the future of gun violence prevention efforts in the county that was birthed out of the tragic incident. There are links, resources, and graphics to show the progress of the coalition. A range of experts from Anne Arundel County, Annapolis City agencies, nonprofits, Anne Arundel Community College, and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health lent their expertise as members of the GVIT and in developing the plan.
County Executive Steuart Pittman and Anne Arundel Health Officer Dr. Kalyanaraman, joined by Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, community advocates and members of the GVIT, will introduce and discuss the strategic plan today at 5:00pm during an event at the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial on Newman and Compromise Streets in Annapolis.
The strategic plan is available to the public by visiting www.aahealth.org/GVIT
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Governor Hogan Directs Maryland State Police to Suspend ‘Good and Substantial Reason’ Standard For Wear and Carry Permits
Action Pursuant to Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Similar Provision in New York Law
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement:
“Over the course of my administration, I have consistently supported the right of law-abiding citizens to own and carry firearms, while enacting responsible and common sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.
“Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision in New York law pertaining to handgun permitting that is virtually indistinguishable from Maryland law. In light of the ruling and to ensure compliance with the Constitution, I am directing the Maryland State Police to immediately suspend utilization of the ‘good and substantial reason’ standard when reviewing applications for Wear and Carry Permits. It would be unconstitutional to continue enforcing this provision in state law. There is no impact on other permitting requirements and protocols.
“Today’s action is in line with actions taken in other states in response to the recent ruling.”
Action Pursuant to Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Similar Provision in New York Law
ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement:
“Over the course of my administration, I have consistently supported the right of law-abiding citizens to own and carry firearms, while enacting responsible and common sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.
“Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision in New York law pertaining to handgun permitting that is virtually indistinguishable from Maryland law. In light of the ruling and to ensure compliance with the Constitution, I am directing the Maryland State Police to immediately suspend utilization of the ‘good and substantial reason’ standard when reviewing applications for Wear and Carry Permits. It would be unconstitutional to continue enforcing this provision in state law. There is no impact on other permitting requirements and protocols.
“Today’s action is in line with actions taken in other states in response to the recent ruling.”
Please find below the latest in a series of weekly letters from Senator Cardin to his Maryland constituents. In advance of the anniversary of the Capital Gazette shooting, this weekend he discussed gun safety legislation and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Dear Fellow Marylanders:
It’s been a week of extremes on Capitol Hill. On the positive side, Congress took one step forward by breaking a decades-long logjam to pass substantial gun safety legislation that will help save lives.
On the other side, on Thursday, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that expands the definition of Second Amendment gun rights and takes away the rights of local communities to determine their own public safety needs.
One step back.
On Friday, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which will go down in history as one of the worst decisions ever. It is a tragic moment for civil rights in the United States when far-right justices on the highest court think it is acceptable to take away the rights of millions of individuals and hand them over to state legislators. The court overturned 50 years of precedent by revoking the rights established in Roe v. Wade, as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Two steps back.
This is the first time I can remember that the court purposefully revoked rights from Americans, rather than expand them. Make no mistake, these court decisions will have dire consequences nationwide.
Next week, I will have my expanded thoughts for you on Dobbs v. Jackson. For now, some good news on gun safety. But let me start with the grim context.
Two hundred and seventy nine mass shootings have taken place on U.S. soil in 2022. Defined as a single incident with four or more people shot, 10 of these took place in our own state of Maryland. The most recent took place barely over a week ago when two men and two women were shot and injured in a Baltimore drive-by shooting. One of the most deadly this year was June 9 in rural Smithburg. Three men lost their lives that day and three others were injured.
Gun violence has plagued our nation for far too long. We cannot allow ourselves to continue living in fear of the next time someone will pick up a gun at a school, grocery store, church or on a street corner, and tear our lives, families and communities apart.
After the horrific shooting in Uvalde where innocent children were murdered, the U.S. Senate finally acted. Congress had to do something substantive to help stem the epidemic that is scarring our communities daily.
Not all the shootings make headlines, but they do destroy lives and cripple communities. For these victims and their families, I was proud to vote Thursday for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Friday and the president will soon sign it into law.
This important legislation moves us forward and breaks the decades-long gridlock on gun safety. It is not as comprehensive as I would have liked, but it will save lives.
The bill will boost funding for community violence intervention and prevention initiatives, like those underway in Baltimore. It strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence by adding convicted domestic violence abusers to background checks. It creates a new source of funding for states to implement “red flag” laws, which help to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals who should not have access to a firearm. It cracks down on criminals who try to evade licensing requirements and makes clear which gun sellers need to register, conduct background checks and keep appropriate records. It also strengthens the background check process for those under 21 seeking to buy firearms, by ensuring that officials have access to juvenile and mental health records.
We also provide much-needed mental health resources to communities by providing funding to improve and expand access to mental health services. Among other provisions, it includes telehealth services for students with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This was a key priority for the Senate Finance Committee Bipartisan Mental Health Working Group that I led with Republican Senator John Thune, as well as our MENTAL Health for Kids and Underserved Act, which was a source for some provisions in the bill approved this week.
I believe strongly that increasing resources for mental health services are crucial, but we cannot conflate mental illness and gun violence. Not every instance of gun violence is connected to mental illness and not every mental health crisis prompts the use of a weapon.
To that end, the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear that our children need additional mental health resources offered in school. We also must significantly increase the pipeline of individuals willing to serve in those school-based mental health service positions. The legislation Congress passed this week addresses those challenges head-on. It provides supplemental funding to train new school-based mental health service providers and provide students with the specific mental health care services they require. While not able to fully meet the needs of every school currently without a counselor or mental health professional, this bill will make significant strides to ensure that a significantly greater percentage of students have access to mental health care services.
The legislation we passed in the Senate will save lives and help keep our communities safer. But there are many more reasonable steps a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support that we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights. I will continue to strongly advocate for the establishment of universal background checks for all gun purchases, renewing the assault weapons ban and prohibiting high-capacity magazine clips. We also should raise the minimum age to 21 to buy assault weapons, until we pass a new ban on civilian purchases of these weapons of war.
As I have mentioned previously, the Senate also should confirm the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF has not had a permanent Senate-confirmed director since 2015, and the agency is sorely overdue for permanent leadership who can carry out its critical mission to stem the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, among other important priorities.
On Tuesday, we will mark the solemn, fourth anniversary of the deadly shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis. In this case, the gunman had been angered by an article the newspaper had published in 2011 and had threatened the newspaper for several years prior to his attack on June 28, 2018. That afternoon, he opened fire on the busy office space, killing Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.
These people had lives. They had families. They had futures. They are missed daily. What occurred at the Capital Gazette was a senseless tragedy, and an act of violence that should never have been allowed to occur.
Reducing gun violence is an urgent necessity, made more challenging by the Supreme Court, which has taken steps again this week to expand the definition of Second Amendment rights. But gun violence is not an impossible problem; there are solutions.
This week, the U.S. Senate took a step in the right direction to reduce gun violence in this country. Senators still have policy differences, but for the safety of the American people, we were able to set some of those aside and take action that will save lives.
Thank you to all of the Marylanders who have called my office in the last week and over the last few months (and years) urging me to support strong gun safety legislation.
And thank you for sharing a few minutes of your Saturday with me. More to come.
Stay safe.
Ben Cardin
June 25, 2022
Dear Fellow Marylanders:
It’s been a week of extremes on Capitol Hill. On the positive side, Congress took one step forward by breaking a decades-long logjam to pass substantial gun safety legislation that will help save lives.
On the other side, on Thursday, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that expands the definition of Second Amendment gun rights and takes away the rights of local communities to determine their own public safety needs.
One step back.
On Friday, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which will go down in history as one of the worst decisions ever. It is a tragic moment for civil rights in the United States when far-right justices on the highest court think it is acceptable to take away the rights of millions of individuals and hand them over to state legislators. The court overturned 50 years of precedent by revoking the rights established in Roe v. Wade, as well as Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Two steps back.
This is the first time I can remember that the court purposefully revoked rights from Americans, rather than expand them. Make no mistake, these court decisions will have dire consequences nationwide.
Next week, I will have my expanded thoughts for you on Dobbs v. Jackson. For now, some good news on gun safety. But let me start with the grim context.
Two hundred and seventy nine mass shootings have taken place on U.S. soil in 2022. Defined as a single incident with four or more people shot, 10 of these took place in our own state of Maryland. The most recent took place barely over a week ago when two men and two women were shot and injured in a Baltimore drive-by shooting. One of the most deadly this year was June 9 in rural Smithburg. Three men lost their lives that day and three others were injured.
Gun violence has plagued our nation for far too long. We cannot allow ourselves to continue living in fear of the next time someone will pick up a gun at a school, grocery store, church or on a street corner, and tear our lives, families and communities apart.
After the horrific shooting in Uvalde where innocent children were murdered, the U.S. Senate finally acted. Congress had to do something substantive to help stem the epidemic that is scarring our communities daily.
Not all the shootings make headlines, but they do destroy lives and cripple communities. For these victims and their families, I was proud to vote Thursday for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Friday and the president will soon sign it into law.
This important legislation moves us forward and breaks the decades-long gridlock on gun safety. It is not as comprehensive as I would have liked, but it will save lives.
The bill will boost funding for community violence intervention and prevention initiatives, like those underway in Baltimore. It strengthens protections for victims of domestic violence by adding convicted domestic violence abusers to background checks. It creates a new source of funding for states to implement “red flag” laws, which help to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals who should not have access to a firearm. It cracks down on criminals who try to evade licensing requirements and makes clear which gun sellers need to register, conduct background checks and keep appropriate records. It also strengthens the background check process for those under 21 seeking to buy firearms, by ensuring that officials have access to juvenile and mental health records.
We also provide much-needed mental health resources to communities by providing funding to improve and expand access to mental health services. Among other provisions, it includes telehealth services for students with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This was a key priority for the Senate Finance Committee Bipartisan Mental Health Working Group that I led with Republican Senator John Thune, as well as our MENTAL Health for Kids and Underserved Act, which was a source for some provisions in the bill approved this week.
I believe strongly that increasing resources for mental health services are crucial, but we cannot conflate mental illness and gun violence. Not every instance of gun violence is connected to mental illness and not every mental health crisis prompts the use of a weapon.
To that end, the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear that our children need additional mental health resources offered in school. We also must significantly increase the pipeline of individuals willing to serve in those school-based mental health service positions. The legislation Congress passed this week addresses those challenges head-on. It provides supplemental funding to train new school-based mental health service providers and provide students with the specific mental health care services they require. While not able to fully meet the needs of every school currently without a counselor or mental health professional, this bill will make significant strides to ensure that a significantly greater percentage of students have access to mental health care services.
The legislation we passed in the Senate will save lives and help keep our communities safer. But there are many more reasonable steps a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support that we can and should take, consistent with the Second Amendment rights. I will continue to strongly advocate for the establishment of universal background checks for all gun purchases, renewing the assault weapons ban and prohibiting high-capacity magazine clips. We also should raise the minimum age to 21 to buy assault weapons, until we pass a new ban on civilian purchases of these weapons of war.
As I have mentioned previously, the Senate also should confirm the nomination of Steve Dettelbach to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The ATF has not had a permanent Senate-confirmed director since 2015, and the agency is sorely overdue for permanent leadership who can carry out its critical mission to stem the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, among other important priorities.
On Tuesday, we will mark the solemn, fourth anniversary of the deadly shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis. In this case, the gunman had been angered by an article the newspaper had published in 2011 and had threatened the newspaper for several years prior to his attack on June 28, 2018. That afternoon, he opened fire on the busy office space, killing Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.
These people had lives. They had families. They had futures. They are missed daily. What occurred at the Capital Gazette was a senseless tragedy, and an act of violence that should never have been allowed to occur.
Reducing gun violence is an urgent necessity, made more challenging by the Supreme Court, which has taken steps again this week to expand the definition of Second Amendment rights. But gun violence is not an impossible problem; there are solutions.
This week, the U.S. Senate took a step in the right direction to reduce gun violence in this country. Senators still have policy differences, but for the safety of the American people, we were able to set some of those aside and take action that will save lives.
Thank you to all of the Marylanders who have called my office in the last week and over the last few months (and years) urging me to support strong gun safety legislation.
And thank you for sharing a few minutes of your Saturday with me. More to come.
Stay safe.
Ben Cardin
