ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Senate has voted to keep one of the most controversial parts of a gun-control bill - a licensing provision for handguns that would require owners to submit fingerprints.
The Senate rejected an amendment on Wednesday that would have taken the licensing part out of the bill on a 20-27 vote.
Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, says the provision will sharply reduce the number of guns that end up in the hands of criminals by making it far less likely for people to buy guns for them when they are prohibited from owning the weapons.
But Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil, argued that the licensing part of the bill is "extremely onerous" to law-abiding citizens.
Senators are scheduled to reconvene at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to consider more amendments to the bill.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WMDT. All Rights Reserved. For more
information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
