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Md. lawmaker: New gun laws create loophole for criminals

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – One lawmaker says the changes to Maryland’s gun laws won’t make recovering guns from criminals any easier.

The law just got more complicated, according to Del. Luiz Simmons. Law enforcement uses two important databases to track criminals and to register firearms, the Maryland Automated Firearm System Services and the Criminal Justice Information System.

“The two computers do not speak to each other,” Simmons says.

He suggests the state develop a patch or a link so that police will be alerted when a person is convicted of a violent crime and must surrender their weapon. Simmons says it will cost about $350,000 and that he is petitioning for a change in the law.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow Kate and WTOP on Twitter.

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