CTD Blogger
Joined:
7/14/2009
Posts:
830
Last Post:
11/20/2009
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Subject:
Maryland State Police Define .22 Rimfire Rifle as an "Assault Weapon" - No plans to notify dealers - current owners could be charged
Contrary to previous reports regarding multiple types of .22 caliber rifles
being considered to be copies of "assault weapons", the Maryland State
Police have so far defined only 1 model .22 rifle as a copy of an
"assault weapon."
In a letter dated October 7, 2009; the Maryland State Police wrote:
"Thank
you for your September 7, 2009, electronic mail requesting a complete
list of the .22 caliber rifles that have been determined to be copies
of "assault weapons" and therefore subject to the seven-day waiting
period and background check.
A
review of the Department's files indicates that there are no records
that provide a list of .22 caliber rifles that have been determined to
be copies of assault weapons and subject to the seven-day waiting
period and background check. Please note however, that the .22 Caliber,
German Sport Gun (GSG-5) Rimfire is considered a copy of an assault
weapon that is listed in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety
Article, Title 5, and thereby subject to the seven-day waiting period
and background check.
/s/
Laura L. Herman, Captain
Commander, Licensing Division
Department of State Police"
A
call to the Maryland State Police (MSP) was placed by the AGC at 12:30
PM on October 16, 2009. The AGC asked the (MSP): "Which of the guns on
the firearms listed in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety
Article, Title 5 is the German Sport Gun (GSG-5) considered to be a
copy of?" The Sergeant who took the call did not know, and he promised
to check and call back with an answer. After 45 minutes, the Sergeant
called back and advised the AGC that, based upon its appearance, the .22 caliber rimfire GSG-5 is considered a copy of the 9mm H&K 94.
When
questioned, the Sergeant also indicated that if anyone who purchased
one of these firearms and subsequently sells it in a private sale, both
the buyer and the seller could be prosecuted. The Maryland State Police
have no plans to publish and distribute their new ruling to Maryland
dealers, much less the general public.
Law abiding citizens are
difficult to control, so it appears that the Maryland State Police are
now working to expand their control by "creating" criminals out of
unsuspecting law abiding citizens.
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