Maryland State Police Define .22 Rimfire Rifle as ‘Assault Weapons’

Update Maryland State Police Define .22 Rimfire Rifle as ‘Assault Weapons’
No plans to notify dealers – current owners could be charged…

Maryland –-(AmmoLand.com)- Contrary to previous reports regarding multiple types of .22 caliber rifles being considered to be copies of “assault weapons”, the Maryland State Police have so far defined only 1 model .22 rifle as a copy of an “assault weapon.”

In a letter dated October 7, 2009; the Maryland State Police wrote:

“Thank you for your September 7, 2009, electronic mail requesting a complete list of the .22 caliber rifles that have been determined to be copies of “assault weapons” and therefore subject to the seven-day waiting period and background check.A review of the Department’s files indicates that there are no records that provide a list of .22 caliber rifles that have been determined to be copies of assault weapons and subject to the seven-day waiting period and background check. Please note however, that the .22 Caliber, German Sport Gun (GSG-5) Rimfire is considered a copy of an assault weapon that is listed in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Title 5, and thereby subject to the seven-day waiting period and background check.

/s/
Laura L. Herman, Captain
Commander, Licensing Division
Department of State Police”

A call to the Maryland State Police (MSP) was place by the AGC at 12:30 PM on October 16, 2009. The AGC asked the (MSP): “Which of the guns on the firearms listed in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, Title 5 is the German Sport Gun (GSG-5) considered to be a copy of?” The Sergeant who took the call did not know, and he promised to check and call back with an answer. After 45 minutes, the Sergeant called back and advised the AGC that, based upon its appearance, the .22 caliber rimfire GSG-5 is considered a copy of the 9mm H&K 94.

When questioned, the Sergeant also indicated that if anyone who purchased one of these firearms and subsequently sells it in a private sale, both the buyer and the seller could be prosecuted. The Maryland State Police have no plans to publish and distribute their new ruling to Maryland dealers, much less the general public.

Law abiding citizens are difficult to control, so it appears that the Maryland State Police are now working to expand their control by “creating” criminals out of unsuspecting law abiding citizens.

About:
Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. (AGC), located in Marriottsville, Maryland. The Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, Inc. was formed on July 1, 1944 when a number of World War II veterans in the Baltimore, Maryland area began looking for a place for recreational and competitive shooting. They organized with several other Baltimore area shooting clubs to form the “AGC”