Maryland residents have been buying guns in record numbers before a law takes effect Tuesday, with provisions aimed at helping keep guns away from criminals and the mentally ill, strengthening safety training and banning 45 types of assault weapons.
Opponents say the law will make it harder for citizens to exercise Second Amendment rights. They also say the state failed to prepare for implementation adequately, creating a backlog of tens of thousands of applications for gun purchases.
The law will require handgun buyers to be fingerprinted. It will prohibit someone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility from owning a firearm.