Hogan Refuses to Support Democrats’ Bill to Ban Bump Stocks Used in Las Vegas Shooting

Annapolis, MD – Larry Hogan has wasted another opportunity to lead after Donald Trump today took steps to ban the sale of bump stocks—the device used during the mass shooting in Las Vegas—that allows the user to fire a semi-automatic weapon at the same rate as a fully-automatic weapon.  In the months since Democratic legislators in the General Assembly announced a plan to ban the sale of the bump stocks in Maryland, Governor Hogan has refused to support the measure. Earlier this month, Hogan was dismissive of the proposal, saying, “I don’t think anyone in the history of our state has ever been killed with a bump stock.”

“Governor Hogan appears to be more concerned about maintaining his NRA rating of A-minus than keeping Marylanders safe,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Matthews. “Supporting a ban on bump stocks, which allow criminals to subvert laws prohibiting automatic weapons, should not be difficult, but Governor Hogan once again lacks the courage to lead. Maybe now that he has permission from President Trump, Governor Hogan will have the political courage to work with Democrats to keep these deadly weapons off our streets.”

Less than 24 hours after last week’s deadly shooting at Marjorie Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a Montgomery County police officer arrested a high school student who was in possession of a loaded gun on campus.  According to reports, police found an assault rifle, grenades and other explosives, and a bulletproof vest at the student’s home.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2013, Democratic legislators in Maryland passed one of the nation’s toughest bans on the sale of assault weapons. Banning bump stocks will strengthen the current law.