Osandu, Angel
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
New Maryland gun control laws raise the age-to-carry limit and regulate where you can carry take effect this week. Governor Wes Moore signed these bills into law that added restrictions to Maryland’s existing gun laws. This new law raises the age to purchase and carry a firearm to 21 from its initial 18. It also prohibits firearms from being carried in government buildings, active polling places, stadiums, etc.
The new laws question how effective they will be and how they will affect Marylanders. Maryland is not a relatively violent state, but the city of Baltimore is ranked within the top 5 most dangerous cities. When asking its citizens, many feel indifferent about the bill. “The bill doesn’t hold any weight in Baltimore,” says Christopher Ohiosikha, a Baltimore citizen. “The people who are doing violent crimes aren’t getting their guns legally.” Christopher and many other Baltimoreans feel helpless as crime rates increase and fear remains in their communities.
And it is not just neighborhoods. Gun violence is coming into schools, as Morgan State University had an unexpected active shooter situation last night. Four students have been transferred to a hospital, others are questioning the safety on campus.
“Campus safety has always been an issue at Morgan,” said Darrius Jackson, a junior at the University. “The area the school is in creates doubt in my mind about our general safety.”
Morgan State has had shootings in the past, but they were personal acts of violence. This is their first active shooter incident, which fills the campus with both worry and anger towards the cycle of violence in Baltimore.
“Last year, one of the security guards got killed,” said Ayanna Francis, a senior at Morgan State University. “The law is something that can be effective to a point, but that doesn’t stop illegally buying guns, and it doesn’t stop school shootings.”
As the new law goes into effect this week, Marylanders will see how it affects their livelihood and if it produces the results expected from Moore.