BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore officials have approved legislation originally designed to impose a mandatory one-year jail sentence on people who illegally carry guns, in a year when the city faces a record-high homicide rate.
The Baltimore Sun reports the city council voted 8 to 7 on Monday to give preliminary approval to the weakened legislation. An amended version of the bill had been moved to the council after it was gutted last month by a Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee vote.
The legislation has become a subject of debate and has little different from existing state law except for adding a $1,000 fine.
The committee unanimously adopted amendments that would make the mandatory sentence apply only on a second offense or if someone was carrying a gun connected with a crime against a person or property.
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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com
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