A public hearing in Baltimore, MD, earlier this week on a proposed piece of gun legislation got quickly out of hand, resulting in injuries and arrests.
WJZ-TV reported that two people were arrested with one of them being injured as a result of the fracas at Tuesday’s hearing at Baltimore’s City Hall on the city council bill, which calls for individuals who are found guilty of possessing a so-called “illegal” gun to face a mandatory minimum jail sentence of one year. It is that provision in the bill that appears to have galvanized the debate, with at least one councilman expressing his opposition to the bill based on that alone.
Other councilmembers, though, were more supportive, with councilman Eric Costello, of the city’s 11th district, telling the TV station that he has heard from many residents in his portion of the city that are wanting action on this issue.
The bill passed 5-2, and will be revisited next month. The current version of the bill, according to WJZ, would apply the mandatory minimum jail terms for those where the crime is a second offense except in certain circumstances.