Maryland lawmakers propose $300,000 liability insurance requirement for gun owners

While gun crimes continue to plague Baltimore City, lawmakers are looking to pass a bill, they believe will curve it.

House Bill 430 was introduced by Howard County Democratic Delegate Terri Hill.

The bill looks to require anyone in the state of Maryland to obtain $300,000 of liability insurance before they can wear and carry a firearm.

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"A person may not wear or carry a firearm unless the person has obtained and it covered by liability insurance issued by an insurer authorized to do business in the State under the Insurance Article to cover claims for property damage, bodily injury, or death arising from an accident resulting from the person’s use or storage of a firearm or up to $300,000 for damages arising from the same incident, in addition to interest and costs," the bill reads.

Republican Delegate Ryan Nawrocki is calling the bill unconstitutional.

“The constitution doesn’t say that you know, that poor people can’t own a firearm because they can’t afford that insurance," said Nawrocki.

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Fox45 spoke with law enforcement expert Joe Ested about the bill.

“Whoever thought of this idea doesn’t understand the criminal element on the street. These guys don’t do it the right way," said Ested.

Ested, pointing out that the majority of street gun violence does not happen at the hands of a legal gun owner.

“The guys on the street don’t buy guns the legal way, they do it illegal. So, we need to target them, not have the citizens, law-abiding citizen hurting to try to buy a gun.”