February 3rd, 2018 by WCBC Radio

The same group of Annapolis lawmakers that wants to ban bump stocks wants to eliminate the state’s five-member Handgun Permit Review Board. At a news conference, WTOP reports Maryland Sen. Richard Madaleno, D-Montgomery County, said the group of governor-appointed members have reversed the decision of the Maryland State Police at a rate three times that of previous boards. “We need to have these appeals go to the office of Administrative Hearings where professional judges can make decisions about whether or not someone should have a permit,” Madaleno said. Citing the decisions by the review board, Del. Vanessa Atterbeary of Howard County told reporters: “We have a governor who’s got a board appointed that thinks they’re on the Oprah Winfrey show; ‘You get a gun! And you get a gun! And you get a gun!’” she said, riffing on the meme based on the talk show host’s car giveaway. The attempt to do away with the review board wouldn’t deny handgun permit applicants the right to appeal the decision made by Maryland State Police. Instead of going before the five appointees, they would find their cases before administrative judges.