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ANNAPOLIS — MD Govenor Parris N. Glendening's is in hot water with gun right and left over his proposal to ban civilian possession of body armor.
"They want to have a big bureaucracy set up on body armor like they have on handguns," said Roy Tarbutton of Pasadena, Md in comments at a hearing before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Mr. Glendening claims the measure is needed to give police an advantage against criminals emboldened by wearing the vests. He proposes reserving use of the bullet-thwarting vests for police.
Exemptions for CC permit holders, military personnel, private detectives, watchmen, security and bank guards, armored car guards would be included.
Persons who might need such protection in their employment —including parole, probation, corrections, county jail and emergency medical services providers — could wear or possess body armor on duty, but not outside their employment.
Private citizens would have to obtain a state police permit to possess body armor. Unlicensed or unregistered use would carry a misdemeanor offense subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
Opponents expressed concern about the burden of danger this proposal placed upon business people, convenience store clerks and others in high risk occupations first denied defensive gun ownership are now facing an equally onerous ban on passive self-defense.
Despite only seven vests collected from criminals in five years, Glendening spokesman Mike Morrill countered critics with, "The point is this, (criminal use) is becoming more common, not less common, and it's something that is fairly easy to foresee".
Uploaded: 3/22/2001
Uploaded: 3/22/2001