On Look-a-Like Assault Weapons Maryland AG Disagrees with State Police
Maryland –-(Ammoland.com)- In October of 2009, we reported on a new but unpublished Maryland State Police policy which declared certain .22 caliber rifles were copies of assault weapons and thus regulated firearms subject to the 7 day waiting period and background check as handguns.
The foggy logic behind this was that because they “looked like assault weapons,” then they must be assault weapons.
The Maryland State Police did not publish this new policy which resulted in an unknown number of persons who purchasing these firearms “illegally” from licensed dealers, while others were compelled to undergo the background check and waiting period.
Under pressure from the Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers Association (MLFDA), the Secretary of the Maryland State Police requested an opinion from the Attorney General of Maryland. Delegate Kevin Kelly provided a detailed account of the legislative history and legislative intent of the “assault weapon” bill as signed into law in 1989.
The Attorney General responded with an opinion in support of the position held by the MLFDA. The Attorney General’s Opinion reads in part:
“In our opinion, to come within the definition of “regulated firearm,” a copy of a designated assault weapon must be similar in its internal components and function to the designated weapon. Cosmetic similarity to an enumerated assault weapon alone would not bring the firearm within the regulated firearms law. “
What will happen to the records of purchases and persons which were improperly registered as owning these firearms is still unclear. The AGC will pursue this matter with the Maryland State Police and request that all records of these purchases be purged from the MSP’s registration system.
The Attorney General’s Opinion plus referenced documents, can be found on the Legislative News page of the AGC website. Click here for the Attorney General’s Opinion
Still another victory for Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore.
About:
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. (AGC), located in Marriottsville, Maryland. The Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. was formed on July 1, 1944 when a number of World War II veterans in the Baltimore, Maryland area began looking for a place for recreational and competitive shooting. They organized with several other Baltimore area shooting clubs to form the “AGC” Visit: www.associatedgunclubs.org