Trends of Maryland Gun Laws

A firearm owner should be aware of the current trends of Maryland gun offenses. Many laws are focused on the possession of firearms and will enforce permits to possess a gun. There is an impact of gun-related crimes on firearm laws. A common trend is a relationship between guns, drugs, and gangs. An experienced gun attorney should be aware of gun regulations and policies.

Focus Point of Maryland Gun Laws

Maryland gun laws are more focused on possession of firearms compared to the distribution of guns. What the legislature has been focused on is keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have access to guns. The laws are very focused in prohibiting people, for example, who have a record of certain previous offenses, from possessing guns. The laws prohibit people who have mental health disorders or who are struggling with mental health and who should not be possessing a firearm as a result of that or people who have struggled with substance abuse issues or alcohol issues. That is where the Maryland law is trying to prohibit possession.

The distribution of firearms is regulated in Maryland but the legislature would say that there has been an issue with the illegal distribution of firearms, but there are plenty of regulations about how one applies for a firearm and who would be disqualified and the waiting period. The legislature would want to make sure that they are regulating the process by which someone can get a firearm, but the actual distribution of illegal firearms is not a problem that typically occurs.

Impact of Gun-Related Crimes on Firearm Laws

There was a little bit of a tightening of or a restricting of possession of firearms in 2013 because that is when the Maryland legislature passed the Firearms Safety Act. That was the first time that Maryland required that people get training before they would be given a permit.

There are some rules and regulations, and they are not ridiculously strict. It is important to remember that different states like Maryland can create their own statutes regarding possession or regulation or prohibition but all of those state statutes have to pass the muster of the Second Amendment. If a statute is deemed to be too unreasonable a prohibition on possession of a firearm, then that statute could be struck down as being in violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms that are guaranteed under the United States Constitution.

Trends in Gun and Drug Cases

The trend continues to be the relationship between guns and drugs. There continues to be an issue with drug use, possession and, therefore, distribution of those drugs. There is a competitive market for people who are wanting to be the distributors of drugs in a particular area, and so that competition for business, that competition for a geographic area seems to involve guns in some way or another, whether someone is a dealer or is protecting their person, or they are protecting their stash, or they are protecting their money, the use of guns in that is just prevalent.

Unfortunately, the most recent trend would be the fact that there has been an uptick in the use of heroin and there are people who want to be able to distribute it. They are willing to use guns to protect themselves. Those drugs have to be transported from place-to-place and guns are used to protect their product. Guns and drugs go hand-in-hand.

There also has been an increase in gang violence, and that can occur everywhere but it is an issue in Maryland as well. It could be that it is actually affiliated with known gangs or people who are engaging in behavior that looks like a gang. There is a common trend where someone is killed by another gang so the gang will take revenge on an opposing gang. The gang mentality turns into a vicious cycle.