Local Lawmakers and Law Enforcement see handgun theft as a growing concern

EASTERN SHORE, Md. – Maryland lawmakers are considering new legislation that would increase penalties for handgun theft. This comes after police and lawmakers report a continuous rise in those thefts, and firearm related crimes across the state.

Theft of a handgun is only a misdemeanor in Maryland, but lawmakers in Annapolis are looking to make it a felony offense to reduce firearm related crimes.

What this means, is a potential $1,000 and maximum sentence of five years in prison on a first time offense.

“Police say that “we need greater laws on the books better protecting victims of crimes, not criminals.”

Both police and lawmakers agree that handgun thefts across the state of maryland have dramatically increased.

Last year, 1,100 handguns were stolen, and forty were recovered in Salisbury during traffic stops.

Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis says, enough is enough.

“We have so many handguns that are stolen out of cars, not just here in Wicomico County, but across the state.”

The Salisbury Chief of Police David Meienschein feels no different.

“Last year in 2023, we did have seven handguns reported stolen, and that could be through vehicle theft, or a residential theft.”

Currently in Maryland, stealing a handgun from someone’s home is a felony, but not if it’s stolen out of a vehicle.

“It is a car not a home where you expect people to be residing in and living and a potential confrontation to occur,” Sheriff Lewis said.

Law enforcement say a handgun typically retails between $400 and $600, but handgun theft is only considered a felony if the weapons is worth more than a certain dollar amount.

Senator Johnny Mautz told 47ABC that “1,500 threshold, that is what makes it a felony, so what this legislation does is simply takes away the dollar value.”

“If you steal a firearm, that is a felony.”

“A firearm should not be valued by its dollar value.”

lawmakers say this legislation would help curb handgun theft, but Wicomico County Sheriff Lewis says proper gun ownership is the best solution to the problem.

“If you want to own a gun, be responsible.”

“Secure that weapon,” Sheriff Lewis said. “Make sure you keep it in the house every night, your taking it in at night when you leave that car.”