(AP) Md. governor signs tougher gun-control bill
By BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS, Md.
Gov. Martin O’Malley has signed a gun-control measure to give Maryland some of the nation’s tightest gun laws and the National Rifle Association says it plans to challenge the law in court.
Part of the law requires people to submit fingerprints to the state police to get a license to buy a handgun.
O’Malley says states with similar laws have substantially lower gun death rates than states that do not
The other states include New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Hawaii.
Opponents are backing the NRA’s plans to file a lawsuit.
O’Malley is a Democrat and proposed the bill in response to the December shooting in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults.
The measure bans 45 types of assault weapons and gun magazines will be limited to 10 bullets.