Calls For Gun Control Legislation On The State And Federal Levels, Firearms Buybacks In Baltimore City and Prince George's County, and Security Measures At Baltimore County Schools

The General Assembly is expected to take up a statewide ban on assault weapons when it convenes in January, in response to Friday's mass shooting in Newtown Connecticut. State Senators Jamie Raskin and Brian Frosh are planning to introduce a bill that would make it illegal to buy the type of gun that was used in the shooting. A similar ban was proposed in the 2010 General Assembly session, but didn't make it out of committee in the State Senate; Senator Raskin says that if Maryland lawmakers won't act on such a measure now, he can't see when one would ever get passed. Lawmakers are also expected to take up legislation that would give state police the authority to audit gun stores -- currently only the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has that power, but Senator Raskin says the ATF is overwhelmed, and notes that audits usually happen only once every four to six years. Lawmakers will also likely consider whether to grant police access to mental health records when deciding who can legally own or carry a gun. And they'll likely re-examine the state's right-to-carry law; it was struck down by a US District Court earlier this year, and the state is appealing that decision. Governor Martin O'Malley says he'll look at ways to improve gun control and gun safety, but hasn't endorsed any specific proposals. Meanwhile, Senator Barbara Mikulski is calling for a federal ban on military-style weapons. Mikulski is also hoping to begin a nationwide discussion about gun control and gun safety -- and she wants to include representatives from the National Rifle Association and mental health experts at the table (via our wire service, the Baltimore Sun, and the Gazette; more here from the Daily Record).

Over the weekend, gun owners voluntarily turned in 650 firearms to Prince Georges County and Baltimore City officials as part of an effort to reduce the volume of firearms in Maryland homes. WYPR’s Mary Rose Madden has more.

Local school officials are providing increased security for students and are reviewing safety plans in response to the shootings at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school last week that took the lives of 20 children and six adults. WYPR’s Gwendolyn Glenn has this report on Baltimore County schools’ response to the shootings.

State Senate President Mike Miller is urging Governor Martin O'Malley to hire a Transportation Secretary (via the Washington Post; more here from the Baltimore Sun).

Maryland's two-week firearm deer hunting season ended 10 days ago, and the state Department of Natural Resources says that about 13 percent fewer deer were shot this year than last. The DNR does say that enough deer were killed to manage the state's deer population (via the Gazette).

The Baltimore Orioles are onboard to sponsor the "New Year's Eve Spectacular" fireworks show at the Inner Harbor (via our wire service and the Baltimore Business Journal).