Not ALL politicians have lost thier minds

[jnevis]

'Bullet Serialization' Bill Dies in Committee
ANNAPOLIS - 3/3/2008

 Maryland’s sportsmen and gun owners are heartened by back-to-back victories in the Maryland Legislature. A House of Representatives bill that would have required all handgun and several calibers of rifle ammunition sold in Maryland to be microscopically engraved with serial numbers by the manufacturers has failed.

 The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus backed by the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation strongly represented the rights of hunters and shooters as it made its case to the House Judiciary Committee considering the bill. A representative from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), its state affiliate - the Maryland Association of Firearms Retailers - and a score of sportsmen’s and pro-firearms organizations testified at the Tuesday hearing of the bill. This victory comes on the heels of the failed ‘Minimum Age Hunting License’ bill withdrawn only one week earlier.

 HB517: The ‘Encoded Ammunition’ Bill received ‘Unfavorable’ status from the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, February 29 and was withdrawn today.  Since there is no accompanying bill from the Senate, the issue is dead for this session.

 The details of the bill briefly stated; By January 1, 2009, all ammunition sold in Maryland required by handguns and a list of ‘assault-type' firearms included in the bill would have to be ‘encoded’. This means each bullet and each casing would have been required to be laser engraved with matching serial numbers and each box of ammunition would have the same serial number as the ammunition – no two boxes of ammunition could have the same serial numbers. The owner of any regulated firearm that required encoded ammunition and owned un-encoded ammunition would have to dispose of it by January 1, 2011.

 The bill also called for a 5-cent tax to be added the price of each round. The tax-per-round would have gone into a special fund to maintain a database of all the encoded ammunition purchased in the state. Also, when an individual purchased a box of encoded ammunition, they were required to present their identification. Their personal information and how much ammo they purchased would have then been entered into the State Police database.

 The bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is an affiliate of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), which is comprised of 34 state caucuses nationwide.

 “The defeat of the proposed ‘bullet serialization’ legislation in Maryland is as much a victory for law enforcement as it for sportsmen.  Banning ammunition – which the bill would have effectively accomplished – is not the panacea for fighting crime as many proponents believe.  Until our society realizes that criminals will always find a way to perpetrate their malevolent intentions against the right-minded citizenry, statutory measures to compromise our Second Amendments rights must always be stopped in their tracks.  I am proud to say the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus – in partnership with the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation – will always serve as an invincible barrier to such harmful, misguided efforts within the State of Maryland. We also would like to recognize our NASC partner, the National Shooting Sports Foundation for their efforts to defeat this legislation,” stated Senator John Astle, Co-Chair of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and incumbent President of the NASC Executive Council.

 Maryland’s caucus leaders in Annapolis include Senator John Astle, Senator George Edwards, Delegate Richard Weldon and Delegate Sue Kullen. The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation is modeled after the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) in Washington. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are David Sutherland and Bill Miles, respectively.
 

Not to say that they won't try again later on.  They did pass the Ballistic Fingerprinting Law that even the State Police Commisioner says doesn't work and is to expensive to operate correctly.

[DDMac]

I'll bet the bullet tax comes back. Then there will be bullet smuggling from low tax states, mandatory stamping of tax indicia on every box, limits on how many out-of-state ammo boxes you can legally possess before an arrest is made, and a whole new division in the tax structure to fight "ammo diversion'.
We have been dealing with this boondoggle over cigarettes in NC for 20 years now. All caused by legislators levying heavy taxes on different consumer goods than are applied in other States. There'll be a Smuggler's Moon over Maryland.  Mac.

[tombogan03884]

Just got done reading "Six Frigates" by Ian W. Toll about the founding of the US NAVY, It seems there's been a "smugglers moon" over the whole east coast since well before the revolution.

[DDMac]

Thanks, Tom. It's added to the library list.

Mac. CLG-6.

[jnevis]

One thing that this article didn't mention that I found out later is that it was a unanimous vote to kill the bill that included two of the bills sponsors.  Normally they just let bills sit and die, this one they actually voted to kill.

[Sponsor]

[Dharmaeye]

This basic legislation has been making the rounds in a lot of states. Same thing happened recently in WA.
Like to know who exactly is behind it.

[Hazcat]

This basic legislation has been making the rounds in a lot of states. Same thing happened recently in WA.
Like to know who exactly is behind it.

VPC

[DDMac]

Thanks, Haz. I'm checking their web site for ammo if it comes this way. Mac.

[Bidah]

I can't seem to find the information right now, but this is being pushed by a group that manufactures, and holds the patent to, just such technology.  They stand to make a lot of money if they can get it passed.  They are even helping to write the bills.  This was brought to the legislators attention I believe in AZ a week or two ago.

Follow the money...

-Bidah

[jnevis]

A rep from VPC and the company that has the microstaping technology were pretty much the only FOR speakers and reps from NSSF, NRA, and regular gun owners were present AGAINST.