Two Maryland lawmakers have reintroduced a bill aimed at encouraging states across the United States to implement stricter handgun licensing laws. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Jamie Raskin, both Democrats from Maryland, are backing this new legislation called the “Handgun Permit to Purchase Act.”
This bill will create a federal program offering financial incentives to state and local governments that pass laws requiring handgun licenses. These licenses would ensure that anyone who wants to buy a handgun must go through a background check, submit fingerprints, and be at least 21 years old.
The legislation requires states to also make sure that people renew their handgun permits every five years. The goal is to encourage more states to follow Maryland’s lead and adopt similar laws to reduce gun violence and ensure public safety.
Background of the Bill
Senator Chris Van Hollen first introduced this bill in 2015. The new version of the bill, reintroduced recently, offers federal grants to states that implement these licensing requirements. This grant program aims to make it easier for states to set up and maintain handgun licensing laws, with the hope that such laws will reduce gun violence across the country.
As of now, 14 states, including Maryland, and the District of Columbia, already have handgun licensing laws in place. These laws require residents to go through specific steps before they can legally buy a handgun. This often includes background checks, safety training, and sometimes fingerprinting.
The bill was introduced after the Supreme Court recently declined to hear a challenge to Maryland’s strict gun licensing law, leaving it in place. Some people had argued that the law made it too difficult for people to buy guns, but the courts have upheld its constitutionality.
How Handgun Licensing Laws Help Reduce Gun Violence
One key reason why lawmakers are pushing for more states to adopt handgun licensing laws is that such laws have been shown to reduce gun violence. A 2015 study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research found that between 1984 and 2015, handgun licensing laws were linked to an 11% drop in firearm homicides in urban counties.
In Maryland, the state’s Handgun Qualification Licensing Law has led to significant improvements. According to a local study, the law was connected to an 82% drop in the number of handguns recovered by the Baltimore Police Department, particularly those involved in criminal activity. These findings suggest that having stricter rules for buying handguns can help reduce crime and keep firearms out of the wrong hands.
Maryland’s Efforts to Address Gun Violence
In addition to the handgun licensing law, Maryland has taken several steps to reduce gun violence in recent years. In 2024, the state launched the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention, the first of its kind in the U.S. This center focuses on finding ways to prevent gun violence and improve public safety.
Maryland also passed a law in 2024 that allows state and local officials to hold gun manufacturers responsible for the impact their products have on gun violence. Governor Wes Moore signed this law as part of a broader effort to tackle the issue of gun violence in the state.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has been a strong advocate for these efforts. In 2024, he joined a group of 16 state attorneys general to hold the gun industry accountable for its role in fueling gun violence. He also defended federal gun regulations that are currently being challenged in court.
“Gun violence tears our communities apart and threatens Maryland families’ safety,” said Attorney General Brown. “The companies that make up the firearms industry must do their part to help us address this life-threatening epidemic.”
Looking Ahead
With the reintroduction of the Handgun Permit to Purchase Act, Maryland lawmakers hope to inspire other states to adopt similar measures. The idea is that by creating a national standard for handgun licensing, there will be fewer guns in the hands of criminals and more control over who can legally own a firearm.
As gun violence continues to be a major issue across the country, lawmakers believe that these types of common-sense firearm safety measures can play an important role in making communities safer.
In the coming months, it will be important to watch how other states respond to this new bill and whether federal funding will encourage more states to pass similar laws. For now, Maryland remains at the forefront of the fight to reduce gun violence and promote responsible firearm ownership across the nation.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
