U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

1988 Proposed Amendments to the Constitution of Maryland and the Handgun Referendum: Summary and Explanation

NCJ Number
114691
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This document summarizes 1988 proposed amendments to the Maryland Constitution and a referendum for the prohibition of certain handguns.
Abstract
The format includes a summary of applicable current law and background and a discussion of the application of each proposal. The first amendment permits Anne Arundel County to take certain land for public uses before a jury determination of just compensation. Property value would be paid as determined by appraisers, and additional payment is required if the jury so awards. A second amendment authorizes the General Assembly to permit vetoed bills to be read and voted upon as a group and to permit preliminary reading and voting on bills as a single group, providing that members of the affected house receive notice and opportunity to remove bills from the respective lists. The referendum prohibits the manufacture and sale of certain handguns, establishes a nine-member Handgun Roster Board that will compile a roster of permitted handguns based on various characteristics, and provides for board procedures, judicial review of decisions, and penalties for violations of the law. The law is intended to prohibit handguns with no legitimate socially useful purpose and unsuitable for law enforcement, self-protection, or sporting activities. Prohibited handguns will generally include those that are easily concealable, ballistically inaccurate, light weight, low quality and caliber, and unreliable as to safety.