(June 2001) On May 28 the regulations to implement ballistic registration were finalized, completing the red tape journey that started with passage of SB 211 in the 2000 General Assembly session. Yes, most people still refer to this part of the new law as a "ballistic fingerprinting" obligation, let's call it what it is: a registration scheme.
As we all know, this shell game became and remains a substantial barrier to purchase of many handguns, so (also as previously reported) in February leadership in the General Assembly brokered a deal with MSP to temporarily relieve the burden, or so leadership hoped. For six months, MSP agreed to fire new handguns and collect forensic evidence that manufacturers aren't providing. News of this deal effectively harpooned our legislation to repeal the law, quieting gunowners until the session was over when nothing can be done to repair the problem. Some deal.
This six month grace period has now begun. Presumably, if you'd like to buy a handgun that is not currently sent with a shell case, your dealer can get it and arrange for the gun to be tested by MSP to meet the registration law.
Don't hold your breath. Our informal poll shows that many distributors who stopped shipping here won't change their policy anytime soon. Simply put, the issue isn't one of collecting shell cases from the manufacturer so much as it Maryland government terrorizing gun companies into avoiding business in our state. Also it isn't clear that as much effort is going into notifying industry it's okay to send guns as was put into stopping them in the first place.
As we understand the test firing procedure so far: Six retired troopers have been hired to perform this testing. The state has been divvied up into regions accordingly. A dealer who wishes to have MSP directly collect the forensic evidence for a gun to sell must make an appointment five days in advance. At the appointed time the dealer will be able to have no more than four guns tested; he is responsible for providing the ammunition. Ranges to perform the forensic registration have been worked out in five of the six state regions; they are still looking for a suitable range in the Baltimore county area, where we understand existing facilities (including Baltimore's County Police Range) have declined to participate because of liability issues (the state declines to indemnify ranges where this is done.)