City Officials Propose Mandatory Jail For Most Illegal Gun Possession

Baltimore officials are proposing a mandatory one-year sentence for illegal gun possession within 100 yards of a school, park, church or public building.

Mayor Catherine Pugh announced the local legislation Friday, along with Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and other local officials.

Pugh--On deterrence..One year sentence will keep people off street for one year until state law strengthened pic.twitter.com/CFfxCQLGrA — Robert Lang WBAL (@Reporterroblang) July 14, 2017

Pugh says the attorney general has provided an opinion that the local measure is constitutional.

City Council President Jack Young says people walking around Baltimore with illegal guns are not well-intentioned.

Davis says the proposal aims to hold people who want to cause harm accountable.

Current Maryland state law for illegal gun possession: min 30 days in jail

Proposed City law: min 1 yr in jail — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) July 14, 2017

He says out of 318 murders last year in Baltimore, 84 percent were committed by someone using a handgun. He says there have been 185 murders this year, 86 percent were committed by someone using a handgun.

.@prezjackyoung : "if what's happening Baltimore was happening in counties, they would be on board w/ what we are trying to do (on guns)" — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) July 14, 2017

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby was not at the announcement, and in a statement afterwards, didn't say whether she supported the proposal.

“The use of illegal handguns is the primary contributor to the countless lives lost senselessly on our streets," Mosby said. "I am committed to holding criminals who wreak havoc in our city accountable for their actions and support all efforts intended to strengthen gun control."

For the past two General Assembly sessions, Davis has been among the local officials asking lawmakers to make illegal gun possession a felony, which it is in surrounding states.

The reason the proposal is limited to school zones and similar areas stems from state law.

Maryland state law may restrict how far city can go to regulate gun possession on its own: pic.twitter.com/aEa34PpTnD — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) July 14, 2017

The Baltimore City Council is made up of all Demcorats. At least one council member, Shannon Sneed, says she will vote against the measure. On her Facebook page, Sneed said the following:

"I cannot support the Council bill 17-111 (Weapons - Prohibiting Handguns Near Places of Public Assembly) that is being introduced on Monday that would implement a mandatory minimum for the possession of an illegal handgun.

This bill does not and will not combat crime in Baltimore City. We know the best ways to fight crime: a quality education for our children, accessible afterschool and summer programs, job training and college readiness programs for children and returning citizens, addiction counseling for those who need it, and increased funding and the expansion of SafeStreets.