Poll: Majority of Marylanders Want Stricter Gun Laws

A survey by Goucher College finds support on issues from banning
assault-style weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10
rounds to fingerprinting and prohibitions on owning weapons for persons
who are involuntarily committed.

From bans on assault-style weapons and high capacity ammunition
magazines to fingerprinting anyone purchasing a gun, a new poll finds
that a majority of Marylanders want stricter state gun laws.

Eighty-two percent of those surveyed in a poll conducted by the Sarah T.
Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College believe those purchasing
a gun should be fingerprinted.

The poll also found:

83 percent support requiring a license for handgun buyers.
77 percent of those polled support prohibiting anyone who was
involuntarily committed—for any length of time—to a mental health
facility from purchasing a gun.
61 percent support a statewide ban on the sale of assault weapons.
59 percent support a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity
ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

Last month the Maryland Senate approved sweeping changes to gun laws
that requires a license for all handgun purchases, bans of sales of
assault-style weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10
rounds, requires fingerprinting for new gun purchases, and prohibits
anyone involuntarily committed involuntarily for mental health reasons
or who spent 30 days in a state mental hospital from owning a gun.

The House of Delegations held hearings earlier this month on the same
legislative package.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has made stricter gun laws a major component of his
2013 legislative priorities list in the wake of school shootings at
Newtown Elementary School in Connecticut and closer to home at Perry
Hall High School.

The poll, conducted between March 3-7, involved 791 Maryland residents
via landline phones and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of
plus or minus 3.5 percent.

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As an owner of firearms, I see nothing wrong with any of the proposed
regulations.