* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Young
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Strengthening Penalties for Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting a Handgun
For the purpose of calling on the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly to act to strengthen penalties for wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun by securing the enactment of legislation that limits discretion to suspend sentences and increases the penalties for repeat offenders who continue to illegally possess handguns.
body
Recitals
There were 318 murders in Baltimore City last year, and 84% of them were committed using a handgun. There have been 183 murders in the City of Baltimore as of July 8, 2017 and 88% of them were committed using a handgun.
The handguns used in these crimes are not legally registered with the Maryland State Police as required by Maryland law. Of the 318 victims from 2016, 46% of them had previously been arrested for a gun crime. This data shows that people are being caught for gun crimes, but are then being released.
In Baltimore City, the simple, illegal possession of a handgun is the source of violent crime. In addition to 318 murders, there were over 650 people shot with a gun. And in 2016, there were over 240 convictions for gun crimes, but over 60% of the total years imposed as a result of those convictions were suspended by the Judiciary. Offenders continue to be released without con...
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