Here is the latest news (see below) - note that 11 states have this same legislation pending and Remington and Federal say .38 sp ammo will go to $50 per box of 20: - and no more handloading!
How many of you guys wll be able to prove the state database is wrong when they knock on your door and say your ammo was used in a crime?
******************
Howdy all, HB-517 is a billed that would require all manufactured ammunition to be encoded with a serial number in the bottom of the projectile (bullet) and one on the inside of the case. It also includes a 5 cent tax, per round. They have amended the bill to not include long gun ammo (this still would apply to pistol caliber ammo that is used in a long gun). They also amended the bill to not collect the ammo made prior to the start date. The bill includes, as far as we can tell, all ammo that is used in a regulated firearm. Specifically handguns but, many long guns are also regulated. The very bottom line is this would effect all of us in Maryland because the shooting sports would end and ranges would close. Period. Competitions with out of state participants would end, as they could not bring recently manufactured ammo into our state. The real horror is no company would make any ammo for the little state of Maryland. The only two people that spoke in favor of the bill were the author, a Delegate from Baltimore, and the company that developed and patented the concept of micro stamping. He is taking his dog and pony show to the other 11 states that are considering a bill of this type. He is not about saving lives, he about revenue on the sale of every piece of ammo sold. He will not go away and there are plenty of people, in the legislature, that like what he is saying. There were 35 people that spoke in opposition of HB-517. The very first two were representatives of Remington and Federal. Both fierce competitors but united against this bill. When questioned by the Delegates, they explained that even though the technology was available to micro stamp the ammunition, from a manufacturing standpoint, it was not very feasible. It would add considerable cost to a box of ammo. (I asked one of them how much a box of 38 special would cost and he said around $50). The "Initial" cost to build a plant was estimated at 10 million dollars. From a business standpoint, it would not be cost effective to build and man a plant to produce ammunition for Maryland. Hence, we would have no ammunition sales. All of the shotgun users are sitting back saying this does not effect them. Believe me, if you think shogun sales would support all of our gun shops think again. The effect of this bill would put them out of business. It would kill the ranges we have, it would prevent competitions from out of state shooters, it would kill 70% of the income for DNR and their programs. The snowball effect would be devastating and in the long run effect the Maryland economy. We were well represented, and the 35 people that spoke against the bill impressed the panel. I thank, Chuck Limparis (Dogmeat Dad), Paul Bluteau (Tug Hill), Dave Elston (DQ Dave), Henry Heymering (Lucky Horseshoe) and many others for spending an entire day and eventually evening, to tell our side of the story. I was however, very disappointed at how few were there. The consequences of this bill are devastating. SILENCE IS ACCEPTANCE. These elected people do respond to numbers. And quite frankly, I don't think 35 people is a big number for something so important. The next step for the Delegates is to review the bill again and make a decision on its fate. There is still time to make an impact. Contact your Delegate and let them know you oppose this bill and why. Don't rant and rave, don't be belligerent. Be, factual and sincere. There is another piece of this legislation that is current going to be read by the House Ways and Means committee. They were supposed to cover this bill at the same time but did not. We don't know if they were waiting to see what happened yesterday or not but it could come up for a hearing any day. How do it think it went? I think we have a good shot of killing this in the house. We did have friends on the Judicial Committee. We can hope that they can convince their piers how the bill could effect many state programs and solve no crimes. Call or write your Delegate today. They do listen. To find you representative and check the status of a bill, take this link. http://www.house.gov/. It does not matter if you are a hunter, shoot skeet, trap shooter, cowboy, IPSC, IDPA or a casual plinker, this bill, or any like it, will effect these activities in Maryland. Chuck Crooks (Chuckaroo) BOD Wildlife Achievement Chapter IWLA BOD Thurmont Conservation and Sportsman's Club SASS Territorial Governor SILENCE IS ACCEPTANCE |