Gun Safety Bill To Help Reduce Theft, Number Of Guns On Streets

TOWSON, MD — Several Baltimore County officials today announced plans to introduce new legislation that would require firearm retailers in Baltimore County to put in place security measures to protect their inventory from potential burglaries. The goal of the Secure All Firearms Effectively (SAFE) Act is to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a news release.

Olszewski was joined by Police Chief Melissa Hyatt and other county officials at a news conference Monday announcing the new legislation.

“We must do whatever we can to keep our communities safe” Olszewski said in the release. “This bill is a straightforward solution to ensure that we keep stolen weapons off our streets and out of our communities.”

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a total of 5,652 firearms were stolen nationwide in burglaries from dealers in 2018. Weapons stolen from these burglaries are often sold and used to commit additional crimes.

Locally, seven Baltimore County firearm retailers were burglarized 10 times in 2018 and 2019, according to the county. In four of those incidents, burglars succeeded in stealing firearms, including one incident in which 51 weapons were stolen.

In June 2019, burglars also attacked firearm retailers in Howard County and Montgomery County on successive nights, ramming each retailer with a car and stealing a total of 45 weapons. A suspect charged in those cases was also involved in one of Baltimore County’s attempted burglaries.

The SAFE Act would create a new county license for firearm retailers and temporary gun shows that fall under the county’s regulatory authority. In order to obtain a license, retailers and gun shows would be required to implement a Baltimore County Police Department-approved safety plan.

Under the legislations, a temporary gun show must have a security plan approved by the chief of police that includes an alarm system, video surveillance and live security guard coverage when the show is closed. Retailers also must:

• Be monitored at all times by an alarm system registered with the county and a video system.
• Include the following physical security elements:
  • Bollards or another physical barrier to prevent vehicle intrusion into the building.
  • Security gates or security screens over windows.
  • Either security gates or security screens over doors; or a secure vestibule for doors.
• Secure all firearms in a safe, secure room, secured cage or behind security shutters when the business is closed.
  • As an alternative to this requirement, the chief of police may authorize the dealer to provide live security guard coverage.
• The chief of police can approve another combination of measures.

The legislation was developed with the help of law enforcement officials and Baltimore County firearm retail establishment owners. It will be presented to the county council on Monday, Dec. 16.

“This bill will require appropriate security measures for firearm retail establishments and gun shows in Baltimore County,” Hyatt said in the release. “The goal of this licensing is to avoid more preventable incidents in which multiple weapons are stolen, and then end up in the hands of violent criminals.”