Moms Demand Action Applauds Senate for Voting to Override Gov. Hogan’s Veto of Background Check Legislation

The Maryland chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both a part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, today released the following statement after the Maryland Senate held a final reading and voted to override Governor Hogan’s veto of HB4/SB208, legislation to require a background check on all rifle and shotgun sales. Later this week, the House of Delegates is scheduled to hold a final reading and floor vote to override the veto.

“Shotguns and rifles are every bit as dangerous as handguns, so there’s no good reason to let sales of these deadly weapons go unchecked,” said Melissa Ladd, a volunteer with the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We’re grateful to our delegates for taking this important step to close the gaps in our background check system, and now look to the House to override the Governor’s veto and get the job done.”

Late last month, more than 300 volunteers with Maryland Moms Demand Action gathered on a new virtual platform for their annual advocacy day. Delegate Luke Clippinger, Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, Senator Susan Lee, and Delegate Lesley Lopez joined the rally to discuss gun safety legislation with volunteers, namely the efforts to override Governor Hogan’s veto of background check legislation. 

Under current Maryland law, sales of rifles and shotguns by unlicensed sellers do not require a background check. That makes it easy for convicted felons, domestic abusers, and other people who are legally prohibited from having guns to obtain rifles and shotguns from unlicensed sellers through sales arranged online or at gun shows. An updated Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund investigation found that between 2018 and 2020 nearly 10,000 ads offering long guns for sale in Maryland were listed on Armslist where no background check was legally required, including more than 5,500 rifles, nearly 2,700 shotguns, and over 1,700 assault-style rifles. Armslist is just one of several online marketplaces for firearms.