The Maryland General Assembly completed its 2019 legislative session and adjourned on Sine Die at midnight on Monday, April 9. After an extremely successful 2018 session, we were uncertain whether gun violence prevention would be prioritized in 2019. However, the occurrence of gun deaths and injuries in Baltimore City remains too common. The 2018 shooting at Great Mills High School revealed glaring deficiencies in our child access prevention laws.
We celebrate our successes, but cannot rest on our laurels. Our laws and policies require constant assessment and vigilance to close existing loopholes that permit prohibited people and minors from accessing guns. Important work remains to block the diversion of illegal guns to our streets.
The 2019 session commenced with a wave of new legislators adjusting to their roles along with an undercurrent that other progressive causes would take precedence over gun violence prevention. MPGV’s 2019 strategic priorities aimed to prevent access to illegal guns and to keep guns out of the hands of minors. Through unwavering hard work and commitment, MPGV achieved legislative success in these priority areas during the 2019 session. We are pleased to share our 2019 legislative summary and recommit to our mission to keep Marylanders safe from gun violence.