SB 444

Did not advance

Public Safety - Gun Buyback Programs - Destruction of Firearms

Sponsor: William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Special Order until next session (Delegate Clippinger) Adopted (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a federal firearms licensee or law enforcement agency operating a gun buyback program to destroy each firearm and all its components and parts, that is traded in as part of a gun buyback program; authorizing a certain person or entity to contract with a law enforcement agency or a business to destroy certain firearms; requiring a law enforcement agency operating a gun buyback program to make certain efforts to determine whether a firearm is a crime firearm or has been reported lost or stolen before destroying the weapon; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 8FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Swami, Ramya	Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence	Oral
FAV	Jackson, Samiralobbyist	Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Depkin, Luisa	Team ENOUGH Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lattimer, Deborah	UULM-MD	Position only
FAV	Rosenberg, Adam	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosenberg, Adam	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Josselyn, Johnlobbyist	2A Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Josselyn, Johnlobbyist	2A Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Wright, Cathylobbyist	Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Weber, Johnlobbyist	National Rifle Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FWA	Jackson, Samiralobbyist	Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Mooney, Karla	TWAW / DC Project / MSI	Written (PDF)
FWA	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
INFO	Traynor, Owen	Maryland State Police	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

2A MarylandUNF 2

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun ViolenceFAV 1

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of MarylandFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland State PoliceINFO 1

Maryland State Rifle & Pistol AssociationUNF 1

National Rifle AssociationUNF 1

Team ENOUGH BaltimoreFAV 1

TWAW / DC Project / MSIFWA 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

YearFWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVJackson, SamiraLicensed Clinical Professional Counselors of MarylandRegistered for: Critical Response Group; Dell Technologies Inc.; Empower; Forward Financing; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs…

UNFJosselyn, John2A MarylandRegistered for: 2A Maryland; Baltimore County Game & Fish Protective Association

UNFWright, CathyMaryland State Rifle & Pistol AssociationRegistered for: Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Assoc

UNFWeber, JohnNational Rifle AssociationRegistered for: National Rifle Association

FWAJackson, SamiraLicensed Clinical Professional Counselors of MarylandRegistered for: Critical Response Group; Dell Technologies Inc.; Empower; Forward Financing; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs…